The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic came to change all our lives. It was crucial to rethink what was really essential and adapt ourselves to this new reality. Here, at Agora Aveiro, the impact was also felt with the reformulation and adaptation of some of our projects and initiatives. One of them was our “Guardiões da Natureza”, the project which seeks to promote awareness to the youngest of the importance of the preservation of the native forest.

This year, respecting all health and security measures declared by the competent entities, our Guardians of Nature didn’t come out to the streets. Instead, with each one of them in their “den”, we gathered to create a set of activities and workshops with emphasis on the environmental awareness, protection of natural resources, recycling and the conservation of biodiversity. Out of this brainstorm came out an Activities Portfolio which, we hope, will be put to action in the next school year at the elementary schools of Aveiro. So that each kid can, as well, become a “Guardian of Nature”!

As the situation calmed down our guardians gathered once again for a new “harvest” of “seed bombs”. The already well-known balls of clay, substrate and seeds, which, as we get closer to the rainy season, will be used to colour the land of Dunas de São Jacinto Natural Reserve, building the base for the plantation of bigger trees.

The “Guardiões da Natureza” is part of Agora Aveiro’s project “Plantar o Futuro”. It has the support of Município de Aveiro, Programa Voluntariado Jovem para a Natureza e Florestas and Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude I.P..