To celebrate the day of the native forest, 23th of November, VAVA donated and planted 1000 indigenous trees in Baldio de Cabana Maior, Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal. This particular area suffered from large wildfires in the summer of 2017.
NATIONAL PARK OF PENEDA DO GERÊS . NORTH OF PORTUGAL
The Peneda-Gerês National Park, also known as Gerês, is a national park located in northern Portugal.
Created on 8 May 1971, the park covers an area of 695.93 km2 and bordering the Spanish Baixa Limia – Serra do Xurés natural park to the north, with which forms the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Gerês-Xurés.
Peneda-Gerês was given its name by its two main granite massifs, the Serra da Peneda and the Serra do Gerês which, with the Serra Amarela and the Serra do Soajo, constitute the park’s highest peaks. On the other hand, the precipitous valleys, crossed by high flowing streams, host lush temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of oak and pine, being one of the last strongholds of the typical Atlantic European flora of Portugal, contrasting with an evolving Mediterranean biome. The park is also home to around 220 vertebrate species, some only native to the Iberian Peninsula including the threatened Pyrenean desman, Iberian frog, or gold-striped salamander.
The area now occupied by the park has had a long human history, reflected by its countless megalithic structures and Roman remains. Presently it is home to around 9,000 people scattered throughout small villages.
The aims of the park are to protect the soil, water, flora, fauna, and landscape while preserving its value to the existent human and natural resources.
In an effort to restore the indigenous flora and fauna lost,
VAVA planted Oaks, Arbutus trees, Chestnuts, and Birchs
On November 23, to celebrate Indigenous Forest Day, VAVA teamed up with ANEFA’s ProNatura project and carried out an afforestation action. This action took place in Baldio de Cabana Maior, in the middle of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, with the plantation of 1000 new trees in an area burned in 2017.
The selected species were: Oaks, Arbutus trees, Chestnuts, and Birchs.
This day aims to promote the native forest and the native species and to raise awareness of their importance.
Oaks represent the basis of the Portuguese native forest. The variety of soils and climate in Portugal contributed to the diversity of Oaks species.
The Arbutus Tree is native to the Mediterranean region, Western Europe and Southern Ireland. In Portugal, it is distributed throughout the country.
The chestnut tree is native to Europe. This species has been historically cultivated since ancient times for its fruit, the chestnut, which gained the status of primary food source for humans, livestock, and wild animals.
Birch trees are native to subpolar regions, as well as mountains throughout the northern hemisphere.
In this action, partnered with ANEFA, VAVA had the cooperation of several entities: ICNF, Municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, the parish council of Cabana Maior, Atlantic Association, Epralima School, and several volunteers.
This planting action was attended by the Board of Directors and parish council of Cabana Maior, technical staff of the Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF), as well as elements of the National Corps of Forestry Agents (CNAF). It also included the participation of students and teachers from the Professional School of Alto Lima – EPRALIMA, technicians from the Atlantic Association and its teams of forest sappers, representatives of ANEFA’s ProNatura project, it also had the participation of some volunteers.
THANK YOU
VAVA thanks all the volunteers who helped contribute to the enrichment of Peneda-Gerês National Park with the plantation of 1000 new trees. This initiative reflects VAVA’s determination in gathering and inspiring everyone to fight against climate change, moving forward to a more sustainable future.
ANEFA | anefa.pt
ICNF | www.icnf.pt
ATLÂNTICA | associacaoatlantica.pt
ProNatura | pronatura.pt
EPRALIMA | www.epralima.com
Baldios de Cabana Maior
Município de Arcos de Valdevez | www.cmav.pt
Illustrations by Vanda Balinha | [email protected] . Tiago Alpuim | [email protected]
Colouring by André Cunha | [email protected]
