Palombar

Palombar – Associação de Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural is a non-profit environmental organisation created in 2000, headquartered in the village of Uva, in Vimioso, Bragança. Its mission is to conserve biodiversity, wild, forest and agricultural ecosystems, and to preserve the built rural heritage of Trás-os-Montes, along with traditional construction techniques. A hallmark of the organisation's work is the recovery of traditional dovecotes ('pombais'), unique structures born from the fusion of local materials and rural craftsmanship; Palombar has already restored and maintains functional dozens of these dovecotes, including all those in the village of Uva. Beyond built heritage, Palombar runs projects to protect rivers and streams, support species threatened with extinction such as the sisão and the tartaranhão-caçador, and promote coexistence between livestock herders and wolves. The association combines scientific research in ecology, conservation biology and ecosystem management with environmental education, community development and rural revitalisation. It organises recurring public activities such as the Festa dos Pombais, Férias em Uva nature camps, and collaborative workshops and scientific work camps under projects like SerE+. Operating mainly in the Trás-os-Montes region, Palombar has been gradually expanding its area of intervention across Portugal. The organisation is supported by members, donors and volunteers, and encourages the public to join its conservation mission, contribute financially, or participate in its educational and field activities. After 25 years of activity, Palombar continues to grow, building bridges between nature conservation, rural development and social inclusion.