Reviving the Land: How Cabeço Santo is Transforming Monocultures into Food Forests
What if we could take damaged land and turn it into thriving ecosystems? At Cabeço Santo in Portugal, this is no longer just a question, it’s happening in real time. Through dedication, ecological knowledge, and community, degraded monoculture lands are being transformed into diverse, self-sustaining food forests.
Why Monocultures Are a Problem
Monocultures—lands dominated by a single species like eucalyptus or pine—may look neat from afar, but they come with serious environmental costs:
Soil depletion – repetitive planting drains nutrients, leaving the land less fertile.
Increased fire risks – single-species forests are more vulnerable to wildfires.
Reduced biodiversity – fewer plants and animals can survive, weakening ecosystems.
Disrupted water cycles – monocultures alter how water flows and is retained, affecting the surrounding landscape.
Cabeço Santo is actively reversing these problems by reintroducing diversity, resilience, and ecological balance.
Bringing the Land Back to Life
Thanks to the efforts of passionate young volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps, the damaged land is being reborn. These volunteers help:
Replant native trees and vegetation
Restore ecosystems for long-term sustainability
Build a resilient landscape that can thrive naturally
Through hands-on work, volunteers not only help the environment—they gain invaluable experience in regenerative agriculture and ecological stewardship.
Valle de Feridouro: A Village for Stewardship
Restoration doesn’t end with planting trees. To ensure long-term care, a growing village called Valle de Feridouro is being established. Here, a dedicated community will live on-site, continuing the work of planting, nurturing, and regenerating the land for years to come.
This approach creates continuity, ensuring that Cabeço Santo isn’t just a short-term project, but a living, breathing ecosystem maintained by people who care deeply for the land.
How You Can Help
Projects like Cabeço Santo rely on community support. Raising awareness, sharing knowledge, volunteering, or contributing resources all make a tangible difference. Every effort helps this vision of thriving, regenerative landscapes flourish. Would you like to volunteer at Cabeço Santo? Contact them via the website or apply via the European Solidarity Corps.
