Primarily located in the Algarve, where 37 plots create a network of forests, the “Biggest Mini Forest” project encourages the regeneration of soil and ecosystems.
“Sharing practical knowledge to plant preferably edible species, regenerate soil and increase biodiversity” is the aim of Portugal’s “Biggest Mini Forest” project, which already counts over 40 plots dedicated to this practice, reveals Luís Afonso, co-founder of the initiative with Ana Laura Cruz.
Primarily located in the Algarve, where there are 37 such plots, he explains that these two-metre by two-metre areas create a network of forests that encourage the regeneration of soil and ecosystems while simultaneously producing food.
The “Biggest Mini Forest” project seeks to encourage anyone with a small area of land to develop regenerative agriculture. It combines knowledge from two methods: syntropic agriculture from Brazil, which requires greater human intervention, and a Japanese model, the ‘Miyawaki’ method, which requires less maintenance.
With this knowledge, he stressed that the focus is on natural regeneration and “islands of biodiversity are created that grow very quickly” – preferably, but not solely, using plants that are edible or give edible fruits.
According to organisers, by combining this knowledge, the model they created makes it possible to “speed up the whole process of regeneration, of soil production” and “direct the system towards something more adapted to man, to satisfy his needs [food], while regenerating the soil.”
Afonso highlights that the project organises workshops to pass on this knowledge to interested parties and gradually create more areas devoted to this type of agriculture.
Since May 2023, the “Biggest Mini Forest!” has already created 43 edible mini forests, 37 of which are located in the Algarve. Afonso added that he has already received expressions of interest in attending these workshops from people in Spain and Belgium.
“We can start with just four square metres and then expand it,” he said. “In other words, our model is always a square. After three or six months, another square can be added next to that to have more and more areas contributing to regenerative agriculture worldwide”.
The idea is to have “the maximum number of people making a small oasis that is regenerating land” and to have more and more people interested in “creating a significant impact” on soil regeneration and preserving biodiversity.
On Saturday, September 7, the promoters will present a workshop at Quinta da Fornalha, in Castro Marim, in the eastern Algarve, as an introduction for “those who want to learn how to create their own edible mini-forest.” During the event, the organisers will present the method, the characteristics of the two-metre by two-metre model, the selection of plants and nurseries, soil preparation and planting techniques, and irrigation techniques.
On Sunday, September 8, a “Biggest Mini Forest Celebration” will take place. It will include field trips to mini forests at different stages of development, socialising, and a conversation with two guests who are experts in the methods that inspired the project model: Sónia Soares (Native Forest / Miyawaki Method) and Diogo Santos (Pocket Garden / Syntropic Farming).
More information on the project and the workshops can be found here.
Lusa
