L9 Madeira (PT)

L9 SAVM: Sociedade Agrícola Vargas Madeira Lda (PT)

L9 SAVM: Sociedade Agrícola Vargas Madeira Lda (PT)


FUNCTIONS APPLIED TO THE LAND
ECONOMIC
Aromatics		Managing and valorizing local aromatic plants, mainly Lavandula viridis and Lavandula stoechas, for the self-extraction of essential oils.
Fruits & nuts water demanding		Former abandoned orchard was rehabilitated. Orange, prunes, apples, lemons, pears, peaches, apricots, kaki, walnut production for self-use and sails in local market.
Fodder as buffer zone		Some plants are used for fodder, trees are pruned for firewood, main economic return is avoided costs.
Fodder		This is a large fodder bank. When the bank has grown enough to sustain the grazing, cattle can go in. Main economic return is avoided costs.
Timber + firewood + nuts		These 6 clusters are installed inside an old reforestation project. Plants were selected to improve biodiversity, for timber production through pruning and nut production. Furthermore, test will be carried out for grafting Pistacia vera on Pistacia terebintus that is more resistant to drought.
Pasture improvement + livestock		Holistic planned grazing is set to optimize the use of grass by sheeps reducing the grazing pressure, increasing grass productivity, reducing the need for external feed and relative costs, increasing ecosystem quality.
ECOSERVICES
Campground/B&B		A small family house will be transformed in a B&B and products made in the rest of the properties as well as ecoservices proposed to B&B clients.
Hiking trails		Connecting with existing routes. No new routes required.
Photo hunting		There is a feeding place for black vultures (old Life program).
Test Area		Testing various species that might work in the future in a Montado system, as well as old varieties of fruits and nuts.
Study and guided tours		When hiking trails have been established, guided tours will be planned.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Fruits & nuts less water demanding		Former abandoned orchard was rehabilitated. Plants such as mulberry, fig, carob, arbutus, and olive wild were selected to attract birds and mammals and promote biodiversity.
Fodder + nuts + berries as a cluster of biodiversity		Biodiversity islands created as hotspots act as core of accretion.
Erosion control		Stone flood walls restored, no tillage, holistic planned grazing.
Insect and bird shelter		Bird and bat houses, as well as insect hotels installed to increase biodiversity of beneficial organisms like pollinators and natural enemies of pest.
Reforestation/Afforestation		Area of intervention to increase tree cover density by planting native oaks and also carob tree, which are climate resilient and provide feed for animals.
Rivers & Open water		Lake protection. Planting aquatic plants for filtration. To avoid erosion around ponds due to the livestock trampling, fences were installed around ponds. Solar pumping system mounted on a raft to bring the water up.
Rivers & Open water		Streambed protection. Protection of water reservoirs with buffer plant ones, barrier for animals, and water extraction with solar panels to avoid animal disturbance and soil erosion around the water basin.
Landscape Restoration		Re-building new flood walls where old walls once were set. In the steepest areas this allows to control water flow and soil erosion.
Biodiversity promoting plants		Increase plant biodiversity in protected areas to support insects, birds and mammals biodiversity.
SOCIAL
Create employment		Optimization of working hours and organization.
Provide social service		Working with schools.



MEASURES APPLIED TO THE LAND
N.	Name	Comments
1	Seed collecting & native species	Oak acorns used for reforestation.
3	Existing vegetation protection	Landowner uses shrub shredder but leave plants roots and soil intact. Trees are protected from tillage that might damage the roots.
10	Soil ripping	Done only when necessary in conjunction with ridge and furrows.
11	Conservation Tillage	Everywhere no tillage for this property.
12	Ridge and furrows	Swales are made with small plows, to help retain water. This technique is preferred to half-moons due to the complexity to implement this technique on the stony soil over slopes that makes it too costly.
14	Organic fertilizer	Collection and application of sheep manure. Cows are always outdoor.
23	Planting in mixes	Used to implement biodiversity at all levels.
26	Plant support Water aids study	The cocoons method was tested but did not produce optimal results on this kind of environment.
27	Watering/Drip irrigation	Everywhere drip irrigation, based on water coming from dams and cisterns and used when plants get water stressed.
29	Plant assist	Seedling protectors.
31	Grafting trees	Selection of natural occurring wild rootstocks for grafting afterwards. For example, Pistacia vera will be grafted on Pistacia terebintus that is more resistant to drought.
32	Diseased trees	Re-planting is foreseen using local seeds.
33	Weed control	Only cutting or grazing, no chemicals and weeding.
35	Prunings	It is done using appropriate schemes that do no stress trees.
37	Livestock Grazing	A holistic planned grazing is being applied.
44	Firewood 10% rule	10% of the dead wood is always left on the site.
52	Root protection	No machines are used any more to plough and till.