Improve the success of reforestation in semi-arid areas: adaptation to climate change scenario (AdaptForChange)

The recent expansion of the semi-arid climate in the Alentejo and the growing impact of climate change requires local adaptation. The increase of the native forest represents a strategy in the ecosystem since it increases the resiliency and ecosystem services by increasing the organic material in the soil, carbon and nitrogen, biodiversity, water infiltration, etc; and decreases susceptibility to desertification. For this reason, large areas have been reforested with native species of oak and cork oak in Alentejo, but with a low success rate.

The objective of Adapt For Change was to reduce the cost-effectiveness of reforestation through an innovative approach: the development of a model that points which areas:

1. may be readily regenerated at low cost;
2. should be subject to assisted reforestation, with the support of several techniques;
3. must be held by alternative activities because of the difficulty in the reforestation.

By tallying efforts and energy to each site through knowledge of their ecology substantially lowered the cost-effective, improving long-term survival rates.

Taking into account the involvement of stakeholders created sensitivity and technical capacity to ensure the sustainability of project activities, including soil conservation demonstration actions and planned water.