As part of the Climate Action Stories of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, together with WWF Portugal we were able to present a reforestation project that starts where climate change is already visible today. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been campaigning for concrete climate protection worldwide for over 20 years. His approach is clear: less talk, more action. With this attitude, the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative focuses on projects that have a measurable impact and can be implemented immediately.
One such project is the reforestation in southern Portugal as part of the Plantar Água project, an ecological restoration initiative led by WWF Portugal and funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation. The aim is to restore degraded landscapes and regenerate the natural water cycle in the Serra do Caldeirão – a region that has been massively affected by forest fires, extreme drought and increasing water stress in recent years.
After a devastating fire, 80,000 new trees had to be planted on an area of around 20 hectares. The challenges are enormous: nutrient-poor soil, irregular rainfall and a high risk of soil erosion – conditions under which traditional reforestation measures often fail. The turning point of the project therefore lay in a holistic approach in which soil, water balance and plants were considered as an interconnected system.
Particular attention is paid to planting native, climate-adapted species, including various Quercus species such as holm oak and cork oak, Pinus species for initial stabilization of the areas and the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), which is characterized by high drought resistance and ecological importance. These species form the basis for a long-term stable and resilient forest structure.
To significantly improve the young plants’ chances of survival, the biodegradable, water-retaining granulate Polygrain from Green Legacy was used during planting. It is placed directly in the planting hole, where it acts as an active water reservoir: Polygrain absorbs more than 200 times its own weight in water and nutrients and releases them to the plants as required. This means that dry periods of up to 8-12 weeks can be bridged – a decisive factor in one of the driest regions in Europe and an effective contribution to reducing the need for additional irrigation.
“As an Austrian start-up, we are proud to be part of such a pioneering WWF project. It shows that effective climate protection is created where practice, partnerships and innovation come together – and solutions are not just planned, but implemented.”
Antonio de Vall, Managing Director Green Legacy
