Site Visit to Machiel Quinta da Floresta, Portugal

A visit to the Machiel Quinta da Floresta planting site in Portugal revealed a landscape facing typical challenges. The monitoring, conducted in late April, indicated that establishment has been difficult overall for the planted trees. Observations noted active maintenance, including irrigation and the removal of protective measures for some settled plants. Interestingly, the monitoring also detected a variance in survival amongst different species, with walnut and prunus species appearing to experience higher mortality rates in specific areas. Despite these challenges, the presence of natural regeneration was a positive sign. The site has experienced extreme weather, including drought and heavy rainfall. The experience suggests that irrigation during the initial establishment phase is critical in the region to overcome the impacts of harsh summers, and that water retention strategies may play an important role.