Site Visit: Vila Viçosa, Alentejo, Portugal

A recent visit to the Vila Viçosa planting site in Alentejo, Portugal, offered valuable insights into the project's progress. The site visit, conducted on May 5, 2025, revealed a landscape where the trees are generally thriving. Maintenance activities, including pruning, irrigation, and mulching, have been consistently applied. While the overall survival rate is encouragingly high, observations indicated variations among species. Notably, Citisus species exhibited a comparatively higher mortality rate, potentially linked to root-bound conditions during initial planting. Despite encountering challenges such as hail, heavy rain, heavy winds, and drought, the site also displayed signs of natural regeneration, which has been allowed to progress undisturbed. The care and attention given to the trees at this site are evident in their healthy growth.