Eternal Forest is a long-term art and ecology initiative founded in 2018 by artist and poet Evgenia Emets, dedicated to creating a global network of 1,000 forest sanctuaries protected for 1,000 years through regenerative design, community stewardship, and ecological research. Its first sanctuary is being established at Faia Brava in Portugal's Côa Valley, in partnership with the Faia Brava Association.
Eternal Forest is a visionary long-term art and ecology project founded in 2018 by artist and poet Evgenia Emets. Its mission is to create 1,000 interconnected forest sanctuaries around the world, each protected for 1,000 years and stewarded by local communities. The project operates at the intersection of ecology, art, and collective memory, weaving together regenerative planting, site-specific ecological artworks, scientific research, and traditional knowledge to foster deep, lasting bonds between people and land.
In November 2025, Eternal Forest launched its first sanctuary at Faia Brava — Portugal's first officially designated private protected area, part of the Natura 2000 network, an Important Bird Area, and located within the UNESCO-recognised Côa Valley Archaeological Park. This 1,000-hectare reserve of wild cliffs, native cork oak and holm oak forests, and traditional agricultural landscapes is home to griffon vultures, golden eagles, wildcats, Garrano horses, and a rich array of other species. The inaugural planting event also marked Faia Brava's 25th anniversary and the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two organisations.
The Faia Brava sanctuary is conceived as a living artwork — a forest planted through regenerative artistic design that integrates environmental research and progressive stewardship. Ongoing artist residencies, educational activities, and phased planting will unfold over many years, offering a living model of regeneration and long-term ecological thinking. Set in the Côa Valley, where Palaeolithic engravings bear witness to a human artistic relationship with nature stretching back over 25,000 years, the project draws a powerful symbolic line from ancestral past to sustainable future.
Eternal Forest successfully completed a crowdfunding campaign raising €6,750 for the Faia Brava seed phase and is now raising €480,000 to formalise the organisation, build a dedicated team, develop strategy and business models, and support committed forest sanctuaries worldwide. Art sales, donations, and community collaboration are all pathways to participate in this growing global movement.
Our Goal
Eternal Forest aims to establish 1,000 interconnected forest sanctuaries around the world, each protected for 1,000 years and managed by local communities, blending regenerative ecology with living artistic practice.
Our Wishes
Eternal Forest welcomes collaborators, donors, and partners to help grow the movement — whether through art purchases, financial contributions, volunteering, or joining future forest sanctuary initiatives worldwide.
