Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza

Quercus runs conservation projects, wildlife recovery centres and environmental campaigns across mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. Its full name is Quercus, Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza. It's a Portuguese non-governmental environmental organisation (ONGA), founded in Braga on 31 October 1985. The association is independent, non-partisan, non-profit and nationwide. Its members are citizens who share an interest in nature conservation, protecting natural resources and defending the environment, within a framework of sustainable development. The headquarters are in Lisbon's Monsanto Forest Park, and each regional branch involves local communities in conservation work. The association runs a wide range of projects, funded nationally and through European programmes (LIFE+, ERASMUS+, Interreg, H2020, POSEUR). They cover forest restoration, protection of the cork oak *montado*, support for pollinators, seed saving, protection of birds and other wildlife along power lines, water quality and sustainable agriculture. Quercus also runs Wildlife Recovery Centres (CRAS), including one in Castelo Branco, which rescue and rehabilitate injured wild animals. On environmental policy, Quercus speaks out often. It regularly issues public statements against projects that threaten water resources, biodiversity or air quality. It has campaigned for a ban on glyphosate, against GMOs, for the protection of pollinators and for phasing out single-use materials. Environmental education is central to the work. School programmes, public campaigns and citizen science initiatives involve thousands of participants each year. The nationwide activity depends on membership fees, donations, volunteers and partnerships with public and private bodies. Quercus continues to expand its reach through regional cores and thematic campaigns on forests, water, wildlife and the circular economy.