Regen Waves

Regen Waves, based in Palmela in the Arrábida region of Portugal, plants native “superforests” on degraded land and is working to regenerate ecosystems across the whole bioregion. The movement started in 2022 and became a non-profit association in 2024. After the Palmela fires of summer 2023, the team restarted the Regen Lab Forest. They're turning its degraded soils into a “superforest” of native species, designed to last for the next 250 years. The model speeds up ecological succession by up to ten times compared with conventional reforestation. It brings soil, plants and wildlife together into one resilient system that increases biodiversity, provides food and medicinal plants in abundance over the long term, and withstands storms and extreme heat. More than 1,000 people have joined through trainings, Regen Walks and collective actions, creating 11 active regenerative hotspots across 81.5 hectares. Regen Waves is now extending this model across a 40 km peninsula, with the aim of establishing 50 interconnected sites. These are part of a wider 25,000-hectare bioregional plan. Its Pilot Programme in Regenerative Agroforestry trains local farmers and land stewards in soil regeneration, irrigation and agroforestry techniques, with support from partners such as Fujitsu and ADREPES. Community involvement is central to the work. Every month a Regen Walk is open to anyone, whatever their expertise. Walkers spend time in the landscape, learn about native ecosystems and help sow native seeds. Alongside the work on the ground in Arrábida, Regen Waves runs online education. It presents its approach as a model that can be replicated worldwide for bottom-up climate action, food sovereignty, biodiversity and community resilience.