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Quinta LuSa: Fire Protection Through Biodiversity
Project SummaryIn central Portugal, Luca and Sara are transforming five hectares of land into a resilient habitat for people and nature. Through forest gardening, native plantings, soil improvement, and targeted water management, they are promoting biodiversity while protecting the property from drought and future wildfires. Help create a diverse and resilient forest for the future.
Background
Portugal is one of the world’s leading exporters of toilet paper made from eucalyptus pulp. The plantations, established decades ago, now cover approximately 845,000 hectares—26 percent of the country’s forested area. The 2017 wildfire also destroyed the valley along the Dão River.
Since then, many eucalyptus plantations have become overgrown and pose a fire hazard: as a pyrophyte, eucalyptus sprouts rapidly after fires, and its fire-resistant seed capsules germinate unchallenged in charred soil. Without intervention, these non-native trees would take over, and many species would be unable to find new habitats.
During our travels in Portugal, we were fascinated by both people and nature—by the evergreen vegetation and the great biodiversity, which is particularly impressive here in the Dão region.
Restoring this land to its natural state to support biodiversity and protecting this property, which we acquired in 2023, from future fires has become our mission.
Read moreSince then, many eucalyptus plantations have become overgrown and pose a fire hazard: as a pyrophyte, eucalyptus sprouts rapidly after fires, and its fire-resistant seed capsules germinate unchallenged in charred soil. Without intervention, these non-native trees would take over, and many species would be unable to find new habitats.
During our travels in Portugal, we were fascinated by both people and nature—by the evergreen vegetation and the great biodiversity, which is particularly impressive here in the Dão region.
Restoring this land to its natural state to support biodiversity and protecting this property, which we acquired in 2023, from future fires has become our mission.
Idea
Our main goal is to protect our property and the surrounding natural environment from future fires, cultivate native species, and actively improve the soil to restore its former fertility and water retention capacity.
Through soil improvement, water management, native planting, and biodiversity monitoring, we are creating a resilient forest garden that provides habitat and reduces the risk of fire.
There are up to 1 trillion microorganisms in one cubic meter of soil; they decompose organic matter, fix nitrogen, and are therefore essential to the nutrient cycle. In this context, we aim to collaborate with entomologists and biologists from the University of Coimbra.
As a long-term goal, we would like to offer ourselves as a seminar platform. Course organizers can rent space from us and hold their seminars in line with our mission to protect nature.
Read moreThrough soil improvement, water management, native planting, and biodiversity monitoring, we are creating a resilient forest garden that provides habitat and reduces the risk of fire.
There are up to 1 trillion microorganisms in one cubic meter of soil; they decompose organic matter, fix nitrogen, and are therefore essential to the nutrient cycle. In this context, we aim to collaborate with entomologists and biologists from the University of Coimbra.
As a long-term goal, we would like to offer ourselves as a seminar platform. Course organizers can rent space from us and hold their seminars in line with our mission to protect nature.
Implementation
Natural Succession & Forest Garden
Our property covers about 5 hectares. We are deliberately leaving about two to three hectares to natural succession and supporting the development of a self-sustaining forest ecosystem. We are designing more than 1 hectare as a forest garden (a multi-layered garden ecosystem consisting of various plant species that live in symbiosis). A portion of the donations (approx. 5,500 €) will go toward fruit and timber trees, the installation of an irrigation system, and the purchase of an electric mulcher. This will allow us to process organic material on-site and return it to the natural cycle.
Soil Improvement
Thanks to your donation, active soil improvement will take place in the coming months. We plan to begin with initial work using agricultural machinery to enable optimized water management in the future. Using organic materials, clippings from our battery-powered brush cutter, and selective forestry work, we are improving the soil so that it can absorb and retain water. This is essential because it minimizes erosion, allows mycelium and other microorganisms to thrive, and increases resistance to fire.
We are propagating native wild herbs and cultivating regional flowers and shrubs. At the same time, we are seeking to collaborate with experts from the University of Coimbra to monitor and highlight the development of biodiversity.
Water Management
We are restoring stream channels and constructing retention basins and ponds. This allows rainwater to be collected more effectively and stored longer on-site. This reduces erosion, improves soil quality, and increases resilience to drought and fire (approx. 5,000 €).
Fire Protection
In close collaboration with the fire department and the local community, we are developing protection strategies, creating firebreaks, and building new access roads. Targeted planting of fire-resistant native species and forestry work complement our efforts to protect biodiversity.
We maintain roads and firebreaks, invest in necessary fire department inspections and infrastructure, and carry out selective forestry work. In addition, we plant native species that contribute to the resilience of the property and the protection of biodiversity (approx. 4,600 €)
With your support, we will implement the key measures for a resilient forest garden in the coming months.
Read moreOur property covers about 5 hectares. We are deliberately leaving about two to three hectares to natural succession and supporting the development of a self-sustaining forest ecosystem. We are designing more than 1 hectare as a forest garden (a multi-layered garden ecosystem consisting of various plant species that live in symbiosis). A portion of the donations (approx. 5,500 €) will go toward fruit and timber trees, the installation of an irrigation system, and the purchase of an electric mulcher. This will allow us to process organic material on-site and return it to the natural cycle.
Soil Improvement
Thanks to your donation, active soil improvement will take place in the coming months. We plan to begin with initial work using agricultural machinery to enable optimized water management in the future. Using organic materials, clippings from our battery-powered brush cutter, and selective forestry work, we are improving the soil so that it can absorb and retain water. This is essential because it minimizes erosion, allows mycelium and other microorganisms to thrive, and increases resistance to fire.
We are propagating native wild herbs and cultivating regional flowers and shrubs. At the same time, we are seeking to collaborate with experts from the University of Coimbra to monitor and highlight the development of biodiversity.
Water Management
We are restoring stream channels and constructing retention basins and ponds. This allows rainwater to be collected more effectively and stored longer on-site. This reduces erosion, improves soil quality, and increases resilience to drought and fire (approx. 5,000 €).
Fire Protection
In close collaboration with the fire department and the local community, we are developing protection strategies, creating firebreaks, and building new access roads. Targeted planting of fire-resistant native species and forestry work complement our efforts to protect biodiversity.
We maintain roads and firebreaks, invest in necessary fire department inspections and infrastructure, and carry out selective forestry work. In addition, we plant native species that contribute to the resilience of the property and the protection of biodiversity (approx. 4,600 €)
With your support, we will implement the key measures for a resilient forest garden in the coming months.
Initiators
When we fell in love 10 years ago in our twenties while living in a shared apartment in the canton of Aargau, the dream of emigrating was already there. Our basic training as a business administrator and an electrical installer complemented each other perfectly through our skills in craftsmanship and organization, but we found no fulfillment in those careers.
Sometimes we both find it hard to explain our career choices, yet through continuing education in permaculture and Ayurvedic teachings, we’ve steadily moved closer to our dream. Farming is a new chapter in our learning journey; we both love being all-arounders and are still extremely eager to learn. Through research, self-directed learning, and collaboration with local producers and like-minded people, we’re tirelessly expanding our expertise.
To make it possible for us to live here, we’ve already invested in the necessary infrastructure over the past three years, and we’re thrilled to be able to live in the midst of nature. Since we launched our project in June 2023, volunteers and family members have been coming by regularly to help us with renovation, gardening, and forestry work.
In this hectic world, we’ve found a lifestyle that feels right for us: an independent, vibrant, productive, regenerative, and adaptable home—close to nature and self-determined.
Warm regards from Portugal
Luca and Sara
Website: https://quintalusa.squarespace.com/
Read moreSometimes we both find it hard to explain our career choices, yet through continuing education in permaculture and Ayurvedic teachings, we’ve steadily moved closer to our dream. Farming is a new chapter in our learning journey; we both love being all-arounders and are still extremely eager to learn. Through research, self-directed learning, and collaboration with local producers and like-minded people, we’re tirelessly expanding our expertise.
To make it possible for us to live here, we’ve already invested in the necessary infrastructure over the past three years, and we’re thrilled to be able to live in the midst of nature. Since we launched our project in June 2023, volunteers and family members have been coming by regularly to help us with renovation, gardening, and forestry work.
In this hectic world, we’ve found a lifestyle that feels right for us: an independent, vibrant, productive, regenerative, and adaptable home—close to nature and self-determined.
Warm regards from Portugal
Luca and Sara
Website: https://quintalusa.squarespace.com/
There are no updates available
| Zeynep Yerdelen Fanti | 100,00 CHF |
| Sonja Suter | 1'000,00 CHF |
| Alessandra & Adrian Gemma Häfliger | 1'000,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 190,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 125,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 200,00 CHF |
Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.
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6 Supporters
152 days remaining
Major donor
Project supported by Swisscom
Impact analysis by there for you specialists
Quinta LuSa combines biodiversity conservation and natural fire protection into a holistic approach. By gradually replacing the eucalyptus-dominated vegetation, promoting native species, and implementing targeted soil restoration and water management, a more diverse and resilient ecosystem is created. At the same time, habitats are created, water is retained in the landscape for longer periods, and conditions are improved to allow the soil and vegetation to regenerate over the long term. Particularly valuable is the combination of various measures that not only address individual symptoms but also strengthen the resilience of the entire property against drought and fire. In the long term, Quinta LuSa can also serve as a place of learning and connection, helping to share knowledge about regenerative land use and biodiversity.
We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.
Primary Partners
