Led by ADPM (Associação para a Defesa do Património de Mértola), REA Alentejo develops and tests a replicable model for restoring degraded soils and ecosystems in the semi-arid southeast of Portugal. It combines agroforestry conversion, reforestation with native species, pasture management and long-term research on soil erosion.
REA Alentejo is an ecosystem restoration project in the semi-arid southeast of Portugal, especially the Baixo Alentejo. Near Mértola, up to 96% of the land is susceptible to desertification. The project is led by ADPM (Associação para a Defesa do Património de Mértola) in partnership with several institutions. It's funded by COMPETE 2020 as part of the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Work takes place across several intervention areas, including the Perímetro Florestal de Barrancos and the Parque Biológico da Cabeça Gorda. The actions include:
- biodiverse groves
- biodiversity strips for pollinators and pest control
- converting eucalyptus plantations to agroforestry
- fencing
- improved rotational grazing, including new watering points for livestock
A central part of the project is the Centro Experimental de Erosão de Solos de Vale Formoso (CEEVF). This research station was set up in the 1960s on a 74-hectare estate in the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana. Since 2016 it has been revitalised with support from CICS.NOVA, and it's now an internationally recognised reference for research on soil erosion and desertification. The station has a laboratory, 18 experimental plots and meteorological instruments.
The project's goals include mapping where native species could be used for reforestation, restoring more than 81 hectares of Mediterranean ecosystems and developing an economic model for ecosystem restoration. Another goal is to run trials on acorn germination, drought susceptibility and rainfall erosivity under climate change scenarios. REA Alentejo also works with schools and local communities through field visits and public presentations. This work culminates in a final event on how the Baixo Alentejo 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. It wants to improve soil health and the way ecosystems function, so that rural communities facing desertification and climate change benefit.
Our Wishes
The project would like to keep working with local schools, communities and technical partners, to expand its ecosystem restoration work and share what it knows about erosion control and drought resilience.
