Terra Agora

Fundação Terra Agora is a Portuguese public-interest foundation headquartered in Carril, Tomar, pioneering a new paradigm for land stewardship across Portugal. Its founding principle is that land is a living system to be held in trust for future generations — shifting the relationship with land from ownership to guardianship. The foundation receives land donations from owners who wish to protect their properties in perpetuity. It then selects dedicated Guardians to lead regenerative work on those landscapes, while a broader community known as the Grove provides ongoing financial support and solidarity. The Foundation itself ensures transparent, independent governance, accountability, and regular reporting. This model accommodates a wide range of landowners and land uses: a third-generation family wishing to donate their Alentejo estate while preserving family use of the home for 100 years; rural entrepreneurs forming associations to restore abandoned mountain plots and build new local economies; and regenerative farmers seeking the long-term land security necessary to invest deeply in soil health. The Foundation's flagship project, Idanha-a-Vida, launched in 2023, encompasses 1,600 hectares in the historic municipality of Idanha-a-Velha. It serves as a living laboratory for the guardianship model and has already delivered measurable returns: 20 jobs created, biodiversity recovery, revival of local markets, and growing community involvement. Looking ahead to 2030, Terra Agora aims to protect 3,000 hectares across four secured ecosystems, train 500 land stewards, launch six pilot business models, and build a network of 350 active patrons. The Foundation is legally registered in Portugal and invites land donors, prospective Guardians, and financial supporters to join its growing movement for permanent, responsible land care.