João Ministro, Technical Coordinator for the ‘Querença Project’, gave a very interesting talk to members of the Estoi Palace Rotary Club and following the presentation a number of club members decided to visit the Querença area to find out more.
The ‘Querença Project’ was started in 2011 in response to concerns that rural communities and previously cultivated regions in the Algarve were suffering substantial decline, as land owners and residents were leaving the countryside. Much of the land whilst in private ownership was left in a very poor condition due to neglect or abandonment and was close to being beyond effective recovery.
An initiative to respond to this increasingly familiar problem throughout the region was instigated by the University of the Algarve and supported by national and local governments and other organisations.
It was recognised that if improvement and renovation were to be demonstrated then the Querença area was a good place to start and would show what was possible through volunteer help with qualified leadership. It was hoped that this would also be seen as an example to others of what is achievable.
One objective in Querença is to encourage the reintroduction and growth of native plants suited to the local environment and natural irrigation systems. This would then become a valuable stock as a future resource. A further objective is to encourage sustainable organic cultivation and encourage traditional local trades. Additionally arrangements are being implemented for private landowners to allow tenants to take over responsibility to farm the land.
A further benefit is giving valuable experience in nature conservation to young graduates and creating ongoing employment opportunities within the local community.
The Rotary group had a most enjoyable lunch at Restaurante Querença with João Marum who specialises in landscape architecture, and was one of the first original team members who launched the project. João showed a demonstration garden in the village centre which had been constructed using locally sourced materials and planted with vegetation representing the local areas.
The group then drove out to the attractive Fonte da Benémola which is a protected nature reserve, noted for the natural spring that continues to flow even in the hottest and driest weather, and is the source of the river.
Walking by the water in the sunshine surrounded by the many indigenous plants and insects, which are now in abundance, with our very informative guide João was a delightful experience.
The Rotary Club Estoi Palace International meets every Tuesday and can be contacted at President@rotaryestoipalace.org.
