BACKGROUND
Portugal is among the European countries most vulnerable to the phenomenon of desertification, especially in the semi-arid areas of the southeast and northeast of the country. According to statistics (PANCD, 2014), in Portugal the surface occupied by semi-arid areas increased by 17% between the observation periods of 1960-1990 and 2000-2010. As a result, these areas are more exposed and vulnerable to erosion, which directly affects agricultural and forestry productivity. It is therefore urgent to focus on strategies for the recovery of ecosystems in semi-arid areas, promoting stands with more adapted ecological structures, with greater capacity for carbon and nutrient fixation, soil protection and increased organic matter content, based on the latest scientific knowledge in this area.
In this context, the COMPETE 2020 Managing Authority launched a warning (13/REACT-EU/2021) under the specific objective “Supporting the Climate Transition” and investment priority 13.1 “Promoting recovery from the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences, and preparing for a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy”.
SYNOPSIS
São vários os fatores que podem resultar na degradação dos solos, e por fim, na sua consequente desertificação, incluindo tanto as variações climáticas quanto as atividades antropogénicas. A plantação de árvores é uma forma natural de deter a desertificação e o aquecimento global, já que as árvores melhoram a qualidade do solo, armazenam carbono e reduzem a erosão. No entanto, para que as plantações das árvores sejam eficientes e com um impacto a longo-prazo é essencial planeamento e execução apropriados. Por exemplo, maior enfâse deveria ser dada à origem das mudas que serão utilizadas e à sua taxa de sobrevivência, em relação à área de intervenção, onde ocorrerá o processo de reflorestamento. A razão para isto está relacionada com o constante aumento das altas temperaturas e com o aumento dos períodos de secas severas, que podem causar mudanças na distribuição das comunidades vegetais e piorar a sanidade das plantas por mudanças fisiológicas e aumento da suscetibilidade a pragas e doenças.
With this in mind, this project starts from the premise that in order to curb soil degradation and desertification, forests must be protected and, wherever possible, natural regeneration must be encouraged and promoted. The latter is the process by which forests are repopulated with trees that have developed from germinating seeds in situ. Therefore, natural regeneration is likely for individuals better adapted to the changing site conditions, which may contribute to the site's resilience.
This project, which connects science, technology and the participation of society, aims to study the production patterns of viable seeds and natural seedlings established in 5 locations between Alentejo and Beira Baixa, characterized by different bioclimatic regions (Koppen-Geiger Csa and Csb), and by 2 EU priority habitats; mounted (Quercus suber and ilex) [habitat code 6310] and Mediterranean forests of Quercus pyrenaica[habitat code 9230].
OBJECTIVES
The project has the following objectives:
1. identify areas with contrasting acorn production/viable seed production and natural regeneration, and relate them to the phytosanitary state (health) of the trees and acorns, microbiome, climatic conditions and soil management;
2. identify productive trees as a source of seeds (acorns) for future breeding programs;
3. to advise agents in the sector on the management of the agro-forestry system in order to maximize acorn production and the success of natural regeneration and to promote the resilience of the cork oak forest in the face of expected climate change and soil degradation.
ACTIVITIES
The project has the following activities:
1. fieldwork that includes: forest inventory, assessment of tree health and natural regeneration, installation of traps to collect acorns and collection of acorns from selected productive trees, installation of weather stations and IoT sensors (Tree Talkers), drone campaign (UAV).
2.Laboratory analysis and microbiological analysis, quantification of organic carbon in the soil, fertility tests on acorns, diagnosis of plant diseases.
3.Data analysis comprising an integrated spatial and statistical analysis of data collected in the field and with remote sensors (IoT and UAV) to identify the relationships between acorn fertility and seedling regeneration success rate with microclimate, microbiome, tree phytosanitary status, soil organic matter and soil management practices. The results of the analysis will be presented in online maps of the vigor and productivity of the trees and areas (hot-spots) with acorn/mud survival, which aims to help landowners, associations and forest managers to act in time and apply soil management actions to protect acorn production and areas of natural regeneration.
4.Training sessions on the use of technologies (IoT sensors, weather stations and mobile application) for the project's partner associations, meetings and dissemination of results, including a workshop for the members of the two associations, in which it will also be explained how to access onlineto the maps in the webGIS.
RESOURCES
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ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
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