Mariana Vasconcelos

“If each one of us plant a tree, one day we will have a forest„

5

Years of History

3000+

Planted trees

350+

Volunteers

Grow this idea!

“Plantar o Futuro” is based on the idea that small actions can lead to great things. Case in point, if each and everyone of us plants a tree, one day it will make up a forest. With this in mind, we want to challenge the University of Aveiro’s new students to adopt a native tree, care for it, and finally, plant it and help build up a forest!

Organised by Agora Aveiro in collaboration with the University of Aveiro and the Municipality of Estarreja, Plantar o Futuro represents a movement for the defence and growth of the native forest and its role in the mitigation of climate change mitigation, forest fire resilience, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.

The project branches into three separate, but complementary activities, which are directed at different demographic groups of the community: “Plantar o Futuro”, largely directed at university students; “Semear o Futuro”, aimed at primary school children; and “Green Friday”, with a greater emphasis on the general community and local commerce.

How Plantar o Futuro was born?

This project is the expansion of “Biologia a Plantar o Futuro”, an initiative created by the determination of the University of Aveiro’s biology students, back in 2014.

In 2018, the project gained its current format, which encompasses all the university community. In this last edition, students, teachers and staff adopted oaks, mistletoes and alders, among other species in December, cared about them for 2 months, and, by Spring, had the opportunity plant them.

Throughout the project's history, thousands of trees have been planted in the Mata Nacional do Buçaco and the Municipalities of Albergaria-a-Velha, Lousada and Estarreja, while contributing to the sensibilisation of hundreds of university students.

Plantar o Futuro

This is the setting stone of the project and its most ambitious movement. In collaboration with the University of Aveiro and the Municipality of Estarreja, new students will be challenged to adopt a native tree. Together with the tree, students will receive a reusable fabric bag, which will have an informative booklet with instructions on how to take care of the plant. Students will then be responsible for the tree until its final plantation, which will happen in February. At the same time, invasive plants control activities and a Forum will take place.

Green Friday

“Green Friday” was an event created in 2018. It is aimed at the general community, and takes place during the “Black Friday” weekend in November. In collaboration with the Aveiro Commerce Association and local commerce establishments, the purchase values in those establishments will be "converted" into native trees - for each purchased 10€, one tree will be planted. These trees, grown and taken care of by the primary school students of the Rio Novo Príncipe Schools will be planted in the Natural Dune Reserve of São Jacinto in collaboration with the City Hall of Aveiro.

Green Friday

“Green Friday” was an event created in 2018. It is aimed at the general community, and takes place during the “Black Friday” weekend in November. In collaboration with the Aveiro Commerce Association and local commerce establishments, the purchase values in those establishments will be "converted" into native trees - for each purchased 10€, one tree will be planted. These trees, grown and taken care of by the primary school students of the Rio Novo Príncipe Schools will be planted in the Natural Dune Reserve of São Jacinto in collaboration with the City Hall of Aveiro.

Semear o Futuro

Kids are the future! “Semear o Futuro” first emerged in 2017 by the hands of Santiago School Centre students. Upon seeing the destruction caused by the forest fires of that year, these students wanted to help nature. And so, the “Guardians of Nature” were born.

Ever since, we have been in several other primary schools and events in the region of Aveiro making “seed bombs”. These colorfull balls are made of clay and substrate, which forms a solid structure that encompasses the seeds, selected according to the targeted area for intervention. Seed bombs are not only a practical and fun way to approach to educate and raise awareness in students but also a way to boost the development of green areas, which help the growth of larger trees.