The EEC PROVERE project “Cork Oak Forest | A Sustainable and Unique National Heritage” was selected as a finalist in the Portugal + Connected category of the European Funds Awards.
It is a Collective Efficiency Strategy that promotes sustainable development and the enhancement of the Montado, reinforcing the role of cork as a distinctive endogenous resource of Portugal. Through an integrated approach, the project operates in areas such as tourism, research, sustainability, and innovation, strengthening the link between territory, economy, and natural heritage.
The initiative is led by the Municipality of Coruche and involves the participation of several municipalities and partner entities, which together promote cooperation and territorial enhancement actions. It emerged in the previous community framework 2007-2013 and continued in the current one — that is, it is a project co-financed by the European Union and currently has the support of Portugal 2030 and Alentejo 2030.
The selection recognizes the contribution of the Collective Efficiency Strategy to sustainable development and the enhancement of endogenous resources associated with the Montado de Sobro and Cork Oak Forest, in line with the objectives of the European Union.
The final stage of the Awards will take place on December 5, at the Convento de São Francisco, in Coimbra, as part of the 2nd edition of the European Funds Exhibition, which runs from December 3 to 5. At this session, the finalist projects will publicly present their applications, and the winners in each category will then be announced.
Voting is already underway for the “People’s Choice” award, which will recognize one of the 25 finalist projects. Voting will be open until December 4, allowing the public to participate in recognizing the best initiatives supported by European Funds