Terra das Freiras, September 2024. – The Terra das Freiras estate, as part of the European LIFE ScrubsNet project, has launched various initiatives aimed at promoting biodiversity and ensuring the maintenance of the ecological functions of the montado, a key ecosystem in south-western Iberia.
The measures implemented seek to improve the habitat of different species of wildlife, with special attention to pollinators, insectivorous birds, bats, amphibians and reptiles. Among the interventions, the following stand out:
- Construction of hotels for pollinating insects, located both on the islands of shrubs and in the renaturalised pond.
- Installation of nest boxes for passerines such as chiffchaffs and nuthatches, as well as bat boxes, which are essential for natural pest control.
- Creation of shelters for amphibians and reptiles, made from stones and logs located on the banks of the pond, which provide suitable microhabitats for their reproduction and survival.
These actions not only reinforce the presence of local fauna, but also contribute to improving pollination, enhancing biological pest control and strengthening the resilience of the ecosystem to the effects of climate change.
The LIFE ScrubsNet project aims to restore and sustainably manage Mediterranean scrub habitats in mosaic with montado, demonstrating that biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use are fully compatible objectives.
