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Best Forest

Better Forest Program

Promoting good practices
forests in Portugal

Melhor Floresta aims to develop and promote good forestry practices that contribute to building a more resilient, sustainable, and biodiverse forest. Focused on the sustainable management of agroforestry land, it encompasses climate regulation and protection, improving soil and water quality, and preventing and combating fires, pests, diseases, and invasive species.

A project that aims to strengthen a demonstration network of good agroforestry practices, aligned with sustainability and productivity, training owners, technicians, forestry companies and certification groups for greater competitiveness and a positive impact.

Better Forest Project
  • Promotion of good forestry practices
  • Capacity building
  • Development of a digital platform
  • Implementation of 30 demonstration fields
  • Contribution to the conservation of habitats and species Natura2000
Demonstration Fields

2BForest is responsible for 11 demonstration fields located in various regions of Portugal. Each field reflects best forestry practices adapted to local conditions. The goal? Demonstrating sustainable practices that benefit the region, biodiversity, and the forest economy.

Disclosure Actions

With a total of 61 outreach activities to be carried out throughout the project, activities include in-person events in the forest areas of the demonstration fields and online initiatives. These initiatives aim to exchange knowledge, strengthen environmental education, and implement sustainable practices that contribute to the resilience of the country's forests, in a process of transforming the forest landscape.

Explore the interactive map to learn about the demonstration fields!

This project represents a strategic partnership to build a more sustainable and resilient forest future, integrating scientific knowledge, best practices and the active participation of all involved.

Interactive Map

Odemira

Alferce

Proença-a-Nova

Loures

Sertã

Serra da Estrela

Alto Lindoso

Arouca

Arouca

Cantanhede

Cantanhede

Miranda do Corvo

Marrazes

Marrazes

We work to empower forests as a key component of economic, social, and environmental progress. We contribute to a greener future, where every piece of land counts.

This work received full or partial financial support from Agenda Transform, project no. C644865735-00000007, under the Mobilizing Agendas for Business Innovation (Notice No. 02/C05-i01/2021), through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and European Funds NextGeneration EU*.

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    Odemira
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    Area

    Agroforestry property of 24.97 hectares, subject to conversion of exotic species to native ones.

    Context

    The Property highlights the multifunctionality of native forests, promoting good management practices to enhance the landscape economically and ecologically. The International Environmental Responsibility Project, coordinated by 2BForest, has enabled the replacement of eucalyptus plantations with native species, increasing environmental sustainability and local biodiversity.

    Objective

    Demonstrate the importance of corporate environmental responsibility projects in improving the condition of native species, with a view to protecting the soil, regulating the hydrological cycle, capturing carbon, and preserving landscape and cultural identity. The initiative also aims to reduce risks such as fires and invasive species.

    Operations

    Between 2021 and 2024, 38,200 native trees were planted, with emphasis on strawberry trees (63%), carob trees (13%), cork oak and stone pine (21%), and wild olive trees (3%). Replacing eucalyptus trees has promoted a more resilient and diverse forest.

    Biodiversity

    Native forests increase biological diversity, improve soil resistance to erosion, and help combat climate change by storing carbon. The project reinforces the importance of valuing native forests and their sustainable integration into the local landscape.

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    Alferce II
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    Location

    Alferce, Monchique.

    Area

    Property with 108 ha with mountainous characteristics that favor the existence of microclimates and great suitability for species of the genus Quercus such as the cork oak (Quercus suber) and for strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo).

    Context

    Area certified by 2B_Forest_Group, with FSC ecosystem services, carbon, inserted in the SPA PTCON0037, belonging to the Natura 2000 Network. It suffered a devastating fire in 2018 that affected a large part of the region's vegetation cover, impacting the region's economy.

    Objective

    Reduce fire risk, increase forest area, promote carbon sequestration and improve forest multifunctionality, avoid forest fragmentation and promote forest cover diversification with native species.

    Operations

    Restoration and reforestation actions were implemented with a focus on the recovery of native species, namely the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), for the local production of Medronho Brandy.

    Biodiversity

    Klasea algarbiensis and Euphorbia paniculata subsp. monchiquensis.

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    Proença-a-Nova
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    Location

    Proença-a-Nova, Portugal.

    Area

    7 hectares, with 6.85 ha of pure maritime pine forest and 0.15 ha of scrubland in natural regeneration since the 2003 fire.

    Context

    The property, certified by 2BForest_Group, has a history of active forest management and aims to showcase techniques for rehabilitating burned pine forests, applied by the Carmo Wood group.

    Objective

    Demonstrate the impact of Good Forestry Practices on the valorization of intermediate products, increasing landscape resilience and preventing fires, pests and diseases.

    Operations

    Integrated planning and management between Carmo Wood and a private landowner. Selective logging is carried out to thin the stands, promoting growth and reducing fire risk. Trees best suited for pole production are manually selected. Due to the type of product and stand, operations primarily use manual labor and limited mechanical resources.

    Biodiversity

    Ruscus aculeatus

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    Loures
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    Location

    Loures, Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. – Confidential.

    Area

    It involves multiple properties in the vicinity of a Bonelli's eagle nest, located in a peri-urban eucalyptus grove.

    Context

    Highlighting the LIFE LxAquila project – Custody Network for the Conservation of Peri-Urban Bonelli's Eagles, which aims to support local communities, authorities, and experts in protecting this species. The initiative addresses the unique challenge of conserving these birds that live near urban areas.

    Objective

    Create a stewardship network for the joint management of Bonelli's eagle habitats, involving public and private entities, such as municipalities, hunting associations, forest managers, and landowners. Furthermore, ensure the conservation of essential habitat for the species and raise community awareness of good forest management practices.

    Operations

    SPEA, in collaboration with the Loures City Council, ICNF, and 2BForest, proposed the creation of a conservation area around the identified nest. The Melhor Floresta program raised awareness of the initiative, providing guidelines on appropriate forestry practices to protect the species and its habitat.

    Biodiversity

    The initiative reinforces the need for efficient co-management of the territory to balance human activity with nature conservation. Implementing good forestry practices will contribute to protecting Loures' natural resources, promoting biodiversity and sustainability.

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    Sertã
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    Location

    Serta, Portugal.

    Area

    Property with 1.59 hectares, including a 1.41-hectare strawberry grove, and an apiary with 38 hives and a primary honey production unit.

    Context

    Integrating sustainable forest management with honey and arbutus production. The owner, a member of the 2BForest_Group, obtained FSC® forest management certification for honey in 2024, becoming the first in the Iberian Peninsula and the third in the world to achieve this certification.

    Objective

    Demonstrate how sustainable forest management can add value to non-timber products, ensuring a complementary economic return to forestry and contributing to local development.

    Operations

    Certified management of the forest stand that sustains the bees, apiary maintenance, average annual production of 10 kg of honey per hive, and operation of a primary production unit capable of bottling 650 kg of honey. Pest control follows organic production criteria.

    Biodiversity

    Forest management ensures ecosystem conservation and the sustainability of beekeeping and arbutus cultivation. Honey and fruit production strengthen the local economy and promote the appreciation of non-timber forest products.

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    Serra da Estrela
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    Location

    Paços da Serra, Villages and Mangualde da Serra, Gouveia

    Area

    A 450-hectare property with significant habitat diversity. Much of the area is covered by scrubland such as broom, heather, and wormwood. These emerged after the destruction of the original forests, such as Pyrenean oak, birch, and yew woodlands.Taxus baccata) and holly (Ilex aquifolium). In wetter areas, close to water courses, there was also potential for the development of ash forests (Fraxinus angustifolia) and alder (Alnus glutinosa).

    Context

    The first property in Portugal to receive FSC certification for water ecosystem services, part of the 2B_Forest_Group, which also includes carbon and biodiversity certification. In 2017, a devastating fire consumed almost the entire property, reducing tree vegetation to concentrated areas near permanent and temporary watercourses, as well as areas near the water bottling plant.

    Objective

    Restore the area and restore ecological balance, with the aim of reinforcing the role of forests in restoring watersheds, which are essential for the quality of water in Serra da Estrela.

    Operations

    Clearing of undergrowth, use and promotion of natural regeneration, improvement of the road network, sowing of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Portuguese oak (Quercus robur) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), planting of Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica), Scots pine, chestnut (Castanea sativa) and birch (Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica).

    Biodiversity

    Armeria beirana subsp. beirana, Centaurea paniculata subsp. rothmaleriana, Erysimum merxmuelleri, Festuca henriquesii, Festuca summilusitana, Koeleria crassipes, Leontodon hispidus subsp. bourgaeanus, Myosotis stolonifera, Periballia involucrata, Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium, Trisetaria ovata.

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    Alto Lindoso
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    Location

    Ponte da Barca, Lindoso

    Area

    The 22.27 ha property, consisting of oak forests, dominated by Q. robur and Q. suber, and maritime pine, also has a small agricultural area, natural watercourses and dam reservoirs, a sparse discontinuous building fabric and renewable energy production infrastructure.

    Context

    Property certified by 2BForest_Group, for the management and services of ecosystems, carbon and biodiversity, located in the Peneda Gerês National Park and in the ecological corridor of the Regional Forest Management Program of Entre Douro e Minho.

    Objective

    Habitat conservation and restoration in the area surrounding the Alto Lindoso Hydroelectric Power Plant. Enhancement of biodiversity and forest carbon conservation and sequestration.

    Operations

    Planting and/or sowing activities in areas devoid of tree vegetation and planting/sowing, taking advantage of the natural regeneration of native species with the aim of densifying and increasing species diversity in existing forests.

    Biodiversity

    55 species of flora in total, of which 4 are considered highly important species.

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    Arouca
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    Location

    Canelas and Espiunca, Arouca.

    Area

    Pereiro with 24.53 ha, mainly consisting of mixed forests of eucalyptus and oak.

    Context

    This is the first area in Portugal to be certified for FSC ecosystem services, carbon, recreation, and biodiversity, with management support through the ES_Sponsor project. The property, located in the Natura 2000 Network – Rio Paiva (PTCON0059), constitutes an important ecological corridor for biodiversity. Given the legal restrictions, combined with the steep slope of the terrain, the owner chose to invest in ecosystem services certification to find alternatives to monetize the management of his property.

    Objective

    Enhancement of biodiversity through investment in the promotion of native species, landscape development for ecotourism, and carbon conservation and sequestration.

    Operations

    Planting and natural regeneration of native species (gradually replacing the eucalyptus forest with a native forest), elimination of invasive alien species (Acacia dealbata) and control of the growth of spontaneous vegetation.

    Biodiversity

    Anarrhinum longipedicellatum.

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    Cantanhede
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    Location

    Cantanhede, Portugal.

    Area

    Three pilot areas, each approximately 500 hectares, with expansion to other nearby regions.

    Context

    Joint Management Unit (UGC) Project, coordinated by OFA, in partnership with The Navigator Company in eucalyptus areas, which aims to address challenges faced by forest owners, such as high operating costs and low timber profitability.

    Objective

    Demonstrate innovative solutions for joint management of forest properties, promoting sustainability, management certification, cost optimization, and increased revenue for landowners. It also seeks to prevent forest abandonment and encourage the exploitation of non-timber products and ecosystem services.

    Operations

    Ongoing technical support, reforestation, tree selection, cleaning, fertilization, forest certification, and implementation of strategies to increase the size of rural properties. Additionally, it controls invasive species such as acacia, pampas grass, and sugarcane.

    Biodiversity

    Ecosystem conservation actions, forest protection against invasive species, and the promotion of environmental services certification. The model allows landowners to maintain control over their land while ensuring sustainable and economically viable management.

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    Miranda do Corvo
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    Location

    Miranda do Corvo, Portugal.

    Area

    Includes terraced plantation areas and conservation areas to protect biodiversity and natural resources.

    Context

    The certified area in the 2B_Forest_Group is distinguished by the implementation of good forest management practices implemented jointly by three certified member-owners.

    Objective

    Demonstrate sustainable planting and conservation techniques, highlighting the correct installation of stands to increase productivity and mitigate erosion in steep areas. The field also promotes the specialization and qualification of forestry operators.

    Operations

    Using terraces to optimize the uneven terrain, applying silvicultural techniques adapted to the soil and climate, continuous training of operators, and raising awareness among landowners about adopting best practices. Integrated management protects soils against erosion and improves water infiltration.

    Biodiversity

    Conservation areas promote the regeneration of native species and the maintenance of essential habitats, strengthening ecological balance. Implementing best forestry practices contributes to a more resilient, productive, and economically sustainable forest.

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    Marrazes
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    Location

    Federal University of Marrazes and Barosa, Leiria

    Area

    69.32 ha, mainly consisting of maritime pine forests, other hardwoods and eucalyptus.

    Context

    Certified by 2BForest_Group for Ecosystem Management and Services, Carbono, this public park features pine and eucalyptus forests invaded by exotic species. The planning and implementation of the restoration efforts is an integrated effort involving the Marrazes and Barosa Parish Council and the local community.

    Objective

    Enhancement of public forest areas, investing in combating invasive species and reforestation with native species of high ecological value. This enhances the aesthetic and ecological value of the landscape, while also contributing significantly to preventing forest fires.

    Operations

    Through invasive species control actions, such as debarking and uprooting, biological control and shading strategies.

    Biodiversity

    Leuzea longifolia, Juncus valvatus

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