The Forest Conservation program aims to develop and implement projects and initiatives that promote the ecological recovery of degraded areas through the restoration of native forests and native species, involving the community as much as possible.

These initiatives seek to enhance the natural heritage, reduce environmental damage, regenerate and recover natural spaces, and therefore promote biodiversity and restore ecological functions, mostly through the restoration of the native forest.

The role of the volunteer, as part of the field team, is to study and learn about each area and forest, and take different actions depending of the time of the year. These fieldwork tasks can include:
Applying control techniques for invasive alien species, as these were wrongly introduced in the last decades for fast reforestation and are now strongly threatening the natural areas
Planting different species - this happens mostly in autumn and winter
Maintenance of planted areas
Protection of biodiversity niches
Management of pedestrian trails

Most of the activities are based in a natural park that surrounds a part of Lisbon. It takes about 1 hour with public transport to reach the project.

Once a month, (no set dates), there is an activity out of the city that might last from 2 to 5 days. These fieldtrips take place in different parts of the country, so the volunteer might have the chance to explore other villages and areas in Portugal. Volunteers play an important role in reforesting on a larger scale in areas that have been degraded due to intensive agriculture, fires or the presence of invasive plants.
The volunteer will be working side by side with local volunteers and coordinators, as well as other community members that join these initiatives, in coordinated actions to create a visible impact but also to raise awareness and promote the importance of networking. Be ready for this adventure!