The Forest Burned. We Resisted.

On August 14th, at the peak of a brutal heatwave, a massive fire swept through the mountains of Lousã. In just a few days, over 3,500 hectares of mountain forest were reduced to ash. Our land was no exception.

Despite our prevention work, 95% of it burned. Only our infrastructure was saved. The fire came too soon for our regeneration efforts to fully take root but even so, they helped mitigate the impact. That glimpse of resilience reminded us why we are here, and why we must keep going.

Regeneration Takes Time

From the beginning, we knew the risks. Decades of mismanagement, eucalyptus monocultures, and invasive fire-prone trees like mimosa (acacia dealbata) have left these mountains dangerously vulnerable. That’s why our mission is to restore balance through regeneration.

But it isn’t quick work. Natural forest recovery can take decades to reach maturity, and even active reforestation can take 50 years or more to create stable ecosystems. From the start, we see our 230-hectare project as a 50-year journey — a commitment to future generations.

That’s what made this fire so painful: it struck in the early years, before our efforts were strong enough to shield the land. Yet, even in this tragedy, we saw hope.

Just a month before the fire, we had finished planting our first agroforest. When the flames came, it stood as a living barrier. On one side, a firebreak shielded our Basecamp; on the other, the young agroforest slowed the fire’s advance. Only a few years ago, that same area was a eucalyptus monoculture — a landscape that would have fueled the fire instead of resisting it, and taken our Basecamp with it. Our efforts bore fruit!

The Mission Won’t Change

Losing so many beautiful places where we worked daily was heartbreaking. Yet standing in the ashes, our determination only grows stronger. We know what needs to be done and we will not stop.

We remain committed: to reforest this mountain, to bring back biodiversity, and to build living landscapes that protect people and wildlife alike. Every tree planted, every hectare restored, every agroforest created is a step toward a safer and greener future.

Be a part of this journey, become a patron now and help us bring life again to these mountains!

We are doing this not just for ourselves, but for the deer that feed on the grazing hills, the owl that hunts at night, the oak that provides shelter, and the future of this mountain's ecosystem.

How Regeneration Protects Against Wildfires

The devastation we saw is the result of decades of abandonment and forest mismanagement. But we know the solutions — and we’re putting them into practice:

• Replacing monocultures with diverse native forests.

Eucalyptus plantations burn fast: their leaves are full of flammable oils. In contrast, diverse native species like oaks, chestnuts, and cork trees retain more moisture and act as natural firebreaks.

• Managing invasive mimosa.

Mimosas spread aggressively, drying out soils and increasing fire risk. After the fire, we’ll manage mimosa growth with holistic goat grazing and replanting with native trees and shrubs that improve habitat without raising flammability.

• Restoring soil health and water retention.

Healthy soil is the foundation of resilience. Mulching, composting, and planting deep-rooted perennials help soils store water and stay alive even in droughts. Strong roots also stabilize the ground, preventing erosion — one of the biggest threats after wildfires.

• Creating firebreaks through agroforestry.

Our own land has shown us how powerful this can be. By turning a eucalyptus monoculture into an agroforest with orchards and fields, we reduced “fuel continuity”. The unbroken chains of flammable vegetation that let wildfires spread. Agroforestry not only breaks those chains, it also provides food and livelihoods.

These are long-term solutions, but every step matters.

Fire Did Not Break Our Spirit

This fire reminded us that regeneration is not just about trees. It’s about resilience, about healing the land so it can protect itself. It’s about creating safe, thriving ecosystems for people, for wildlife, and for the generations to come.

Follow our journey as we reforest, regenerate, and revitalize. We’re also rebuilding three abandoned villages on this land, blending ecological restoration with cultural revival.

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Together, we can make this mountain green again. 🌱