Monitoring Visit to Quinta das Abelhas, Alentejo

A recent monitoring visit was conducted at the Quinta das Abelhas site in Alentejo on April 25, 2026, with five members of the Life Terra team visiting the project together with land manager Marc Leiber.

The visit provided a comprehensive overview of the agroforestry systems implemented on the site. Overall, the systems are developing very positively, with strong plant establishment and vigorous growth observed across different plots. Notably, some of the older systems (4 years-old) have already reached a stage where irrigation is no longer required, demonstrating a high level of resilience and successful adaptation to local conditions.

Observations confirmed a high survival rate among planted species, with most plants thriving. The structural diversity of the systems is increasing over time, contributing to a noticeable enhancement in biodiversity and ecosystem complexity across the site.

In addition to the monitoring of existing plots, the visit also included a tour of recent hydrological design interventions implemented on the farm. These measures aim to improve water retention within the landscape, supporting the long-term viability of newly established agroforestry systems and increasing overall climate resilience.

The visit highlighted the strong performance of syntropic systems under Mediterranean conditions and reinforced the importance of integrated design approaches combining vegetation structure and water management.