Associação Transumância e Natureza (ATNatureza)CompletedForests & Landscapes

A Boost for Biodiversity in the Faia Brava Reserve

Faia Brava Reserve: Strengthening a Model for Landscape Restoration

LocationFigueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal

TimeframeMarch 2021 – March 2026

Viridia Support€194,482

The Challenge

The Faia Brava Reserve is one of Portugal's most important privately managed conservation areas, located within the Vale do Côa Special Protection Area. Led by Associação Transumância e Natureza (ATNatureza), this project focuses on restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and strengthening a long-term model for landscape-scale conservation.

Impact at a Glance

53Hectares restored

Keystone Species

Oak (Quercus suber), Cork oak (Quercus rotundifolia), Azores juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)

What We’re Doing

This project builds on over 20 years of conservation work at Faia Brava. The focus is on strengthening ecosystem resilience through a combination of habitat restoration, fire risk reduction, water management, and support for natural herbivore dynamics.

Pruning 125 hectares of trees on both sides of the Faia Brava Reserve

Creating a seed bank with 20 plots of 12m² each, densely sown with acorns

Maintaining plantations and replacing dead trees

Creating a fire corridor in the northern part of the reserve

Why It Matters

Faia Brava represents a proven model for long-term conservation in Portugal. By combining land management, ecological restoration, and species protection, it demonstrates how sustained support can lead to meaningful and lasting impact. Viridia's role is to help ensure that this work continues and that resources reach the teams best placed to carry it forward.

The Team

Project Lead: Professor Nuno Loureiro
Viridia Associates: Nuno Ferrand, Carlos Aguiar

Support This Work

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