A showcase project for climate-adapted reforestation is being created in the Serra do Caldeirão in southern Portugal – initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, formerly the World Wildlife Fund) and other environmental organizations. Under the name Plantar Água – which means “planting water ” – 80,000 native trees are being planted on around 120 hectares of degraded landscape to make the region more resistant to drought and extreme weather conditions in the long term.
Technology from Austria for climate protection
As an official technology partner, Green Legacy supplies innovative, biodegradable hydrogels (superabsorbers). These soil additives are introduced directly into the root zone, store rainwater for weeks and release it to the plants as required. This reduces the need for irrigation, increases the survival rate of the seedlings – and promotes root growth even under difficult conditions.
Working together for climate-resilient forests
The WWF plays a central role in this project: in addition to coordinating the project, it contributes its expertise in water and ecosystem management. Afonso do Ó, water and nutrition expert at WWF, initiated the use of Green Legacy technology. In close coordination between WWF, Green Legacy and other stakeholders, a customized application plan was developed that is precisely tailored to the local soil and climate conditions – including dosage, application method and area distribution.
A model for sustainable reforestation
Plantar Água stands for a new approach to reforestation: scientifically sound, technologically supported and locally anchored. The collaboration between international organizations such as the WWF, innovative companies such as Green Legacy and local communities creates solutions that can also be implemented in other regions affected by climate change.
For Green Legacy, this commitment is much more than an individual project – it is an expression of the conviction that ecological restoration and technological innovation must go hand in hand in order to effectively meet the challenges of climate change.
