REA Alentejo is a project led by ADPM – Associação para a Defesa do Património de Mértola that develops and tests a replicable model to restore degraded soils and ecosystems in the semi-arid southeast of Portugal. It combines agroforestry conversion, native reforestation, pasture management, and long-term soil erosion research.
REA Alentejo is an ecosystem restoration initiative promoted by ADPM – Associação para a Defesa do Património de Mértola, in partnership with several institutions, and funded by COMPETE 2020 as part of the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project targets the semi-arid southeast of Portugal, particularly the Baixo Alentejo region, where up to 96% of land near Mértola is susceptible to desertification.
The initiative works across several intervention areas, including the Perímetro Florestal de Barrancos and the Parque Biológico da Cabeça Gorda, implementing biodiverse groves, biodiversity strips for pollinators and pest control, agroforestry conversion of eucalyptus plantations, fencing, and improved rotational grazing systems including new watering points for livestock.
A central component is the Centro Experimental de Erosão de Solos de Vale Formoso (CEEVF), a research station established in the 1960s on a 74-hectare estate within the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana. Revitalized since 2016 with support from CICS.NOVA, the center is now an internationally recognized reference for soil erosion and desertification research, featuring a laboratory, 18 experimental plots, and meteorological instruments.
Project goals include producing maps of reforestation potential using native species, restoring over 81 hectares of Mediterranean ecosystems, developing an economic model for ecosystem restoration, and conducting trials on acorn germination, drought susceptibility, and rainfall erosivity under climate change scenarios. REA Alentejo also engages schools and local communities through field visits and public presentations, culminating in a final event addressing how the Baixo Alentejo region can prepare for climate change and desertification.
Our Goal
REA Alentejo aims to create a replicable model for restoring agricultural and forest productivity in the semi-arid regions of southeast Portugal, improving soil health and ecosystem function to benefit rural communities facing desertification and climate change.
Our Wishes
The project seeks continued collaboration with local schools, communities, and technical partners to expand ecosystem restoration actions and share knowledge about erosion control and drought resilience.
