World Tree Day. 8 reforestation support programs
22/03/2023
The International Day of Trees and Forests, which is celebrated on March 21, was implemented by the United Nations to mark the importance of large
Sponsoring an olive tree is a project in Abrantes that helps fight climate change and fires, protect biodiversity and create jobs in the region.
In Portugal, it is estimated that there are more than 200,000 hectares of abandoned farmland, with trees and crops dying due to lack of care.
Apadrinhaumaoliveira.org
is a Portuguese project that was born with the aim of recovering 10,000 abandoned centenary and millenary olive trees in Abrantes, helping to revitalize the region and protect its natural and cultural heritage.
Behind the project is Apadrinhaumaoliveira.org, a non-profit association from Abrantes that wants to change the rural reality, working against generational replacement and the fires to which the region is subject through the recovery and maintenance of abandoned olive trees.
With an annual contribution of 60 euros, each person can choose their own abandoned olive tree, name it and visit it whenever they want. In addition, godparents are updated on the recovery status and progress of their olive tree by email. As a thank you, they also receive two liters of extra virgin olive oil a year, produced from the reclaimed olive trees.
During the visits, the association presents the olive tree and explains the origin and secrets of the olive oil production process, which the godparents receive at home.
Thanks to the donations, the olive groves are cleared, the dry stone walls are restored and the soil is enriched, preparing the earth to receive nutrients. The association has agreements with the owners of the properties, thus avoiding the abandonment of the land.
In addition to promoting biodiversity, centuries-old olive trees also play an important role in absorbing and fixing carbon dioxide (CO2): while a newly planted tree only begins to significantly capture CO2 after 10-15 years, the recovery of trees has an immediate effect.
Currently, the association’s results are as follows:
- around 80 godparents;
- three full-time jobs created (former employees of the Pego thermoelectric power station were retrained and now help to care for and restore the olive trees);
- 950 kilos of olives picked, which will result in the first oil to be offered to the godparents;
- New projects, in particular the completion of the Mouriscas walking route, which will allow visitors to see centuries-old olive trees.
In a statement, João Rijo, director of Apadrinhaumaoliveira.org, says that if 300 olive trees are sponsored by Christmas, the association will be able to create another local job and make the project viable.
The project has its origins in Spain’s Apadrinaunolivo.org, which has been running for nine years and has already restored 16,000 olive trees.
She could have studied Meteorology and Oceanography but ended up going for Communication. And that's fine because if they don't get their weather predictions right, she wouldn't be the one to change that. She started by looking for sustainable ideas and projects for her university, and since then, she has never stopped (who stops, really?). She loves to watch tv shows, but she watches few because she is demanding. You don't need much to convince her to embrace new, "greener" habits and challenges.
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