The Ecosystems Regeneration camps are an experience of learning, action and networking. Participants have various backgrounds and get together motivated to act as regeneration agents, building on tools and knowledge. Time is spent in understanding ecological principles, practicing key techniques and deepening potential networks of action and support.

Our focus for this Spring is to disseminate, develop and put into practice seasonal agroforestry and ecological regeneration knowledge, and to activate the Bioregional Learning Community in order to respond proactively to the challenges of drought. In this way we celebrate the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021/2030, and at this event we will also launch our participation as a local Hub of the “Ecosystem Restoration Communities”.

Our target is to reach as many eco-social initiatives as possible willing to join this opportunity and share the ways to make other Ecosystem Regeneration Camps come alive.

FOR WHOM

This experiential learning opportunity is being offered to people who can be counted-on to “pay it forward” by continuing the work of ecosystem regeneration in their own context.

Is aimed at individuals with a history of committed action to advance environmental causes and/or social justice causes, and who have the intention to use skills gained in the camp to increase their impact in regenerating nature and society, and act on ecosystems restoration.

It is possible to attend to specific days of interest but priority will be given to people willing to attend the 7 days.

NB: We have limited capacity. In order to reserve your place, make sure you click the “JOIN NOW” button above and fill out the linked application form. We will select and inform you about your participation as soon as possible.

FACILITATION TEAM

WHAT TO BRING

For your comfort, safety and wellbeing please bring the following:
– Outerwear (boots, hat, sweater and rain-gear advised)
– Working gloves
– Water bottle and/or personal cup

HOW TO SUPPORT

We offer these camps regularly motivated to empower ecosystem regeneration and to share tools on how to do it. In the intention to make this available to everyone the camp run on donations. Please support as you can by:
– Become a PND member on arrival (Know more HERE).
– Bring your own tools (gloves, garden trowel, garden scissors, etc.)
– Bring veggies, herbs, homemade bread or jams – PND will cook lunch and add in your contributions –
– Spread the word! Let people know about the camp and other PND activities.
– Make a donation!

To run this camp we need a minimun of 160€ per person, including all costs with food, tools, teaching team, organization and communication plus infrastructures. This support will allow other to benefit for this same experiences, please make a donation to:

PROJECTO NOVAS DESCOBERTAS
Caixa de Crédito Agrícola
NIB: 0045 7194 4015 2135 1713 6 // IBAN: PT50 0045 7194 40152135171 36
BIC/SWIFT: CCCMPTPL
Please send transfer notice by email to programas@projectonovasdescobertas.org

TOPICS PER DAY

Day 1- Regenerative Agroforestry
– The Basics of Regenerative Agroforestry.
– Guided Tour of Regenerative Agroforestry Examples

Day 2 – Agroforestry in “Alley Cropping”
– Food Sovereignty in Productive Agroforestry Systems.

Day 3- Syntropic Forestgarden
– Ecological Succession & Syntropic ForestGarden Design.
– Increase productivity within an existing syntropic system.

Day 4- Wood-Pastures & Fodder
– Why and how to use wood-pastures & FodderBanks as complementary to Holistic Planned Grazing in the semi-arid.
– Plant and manage Fodder banks.

Day 5- Health soils & I.M.O. (Indigenous Microorganisms)
– Intro to Soil Sciences. Healthy soils, what makes them and how to maintain them. Living Soils.
– Making Biofertilizer from Indigenous mico-organisms

Day 6 – Dryland woodland & Ecosystem Restoration Community Open Day
– Dryland regeneration of Coastal Mediterranean Ecosystems.
– Micro-catchment and reforestation techniques for dryland regeneration.
– Launch of the Southwest Algarve Ecosystem Restoration Community.
– How to monitor the collective impact of bioregional regeneration?

Day 7 – Closing
– How to boost up the regeneration movement.
– Evaluation and next steps.

PATTERN OF THE DAY

9:30 – 11:00 // Topic of the day (theoretical)
11:30– 12:00 // Break
11:30 – 13:00 // Practical tutorial
13:00 – 14:00 // Lunch
14:30 – 17:30 // Applied learning (self-managed break)
18:00 // Community contribuitions
20:00 – 21:00 // Dinner

OUTCOMES

By the end you will be able to:
– Apply methods and techniques for regenerating ecosystem your are part of
– Mimic natural processes
– Use appropriate tools
– Participate in a network of learning, support and action.

Course organized by Projecto Novas Descobertas Association, in partnership with Quinta Vale da Lama and ORLA.