ACTION PLAN

AXES

The EEC PROVERE “Cork Oak Forest and Cork | A Collective Heritage to be Valued” is implemented through an Action Plan structured around four strategic axes:

1. Dynamization of the partnership, animation, and promotion of the territory and its endogenous resource.
2. Promotion of knowledge and research for the preservation of the endogenous resource and the enhancement of its ecosystem role.
3. Preservation and valorization of the territory and the endogenous resource.
4. Qualification and capacity building of the economic fabric, and promotion of entrepreneurial discovery processes focused on the endogenous resource.

PROJECTS

The Action Plan comprises 20 projects (five anchor projects and 15 complementary projects) promoted by public and private entities.

— The anchor projects have the capacity to drive other projects and activities, and are therefore fundamental to the implementation of the PROVERE.

— The complementary projects are vital for strengthening and enriching the economic fabric, contributing decisively to the achievement of the PROVERE objectives.

Projects	Type	Promoter	Brief Description
STRATEGIC AXIS I. PARTNERSHIP DYNAMIZATION, ANIMATION AND INTEGRATED PROMOTION OF THE TERRITORY AND THE ENDOGENOUS RESOURCE
PI.1. Coordination and Management Structure	Anchor Project	Municipality of Coruche	Intangible project under development to be submitted after completing the two qualification phases. Includes the team and all activities related to network coordination, partnership and territory animation, dissemination, and promotion.
PI.2. The Montado – Unique Tourism Experiences	Anchor Project	Regional Tourism Entity of Alentejo and Ribatejo	Project aimed at structuring a distinctive tourism offer in the Montado. It foresees the creation of unique experiences and their promotion/dissemination.
PI.3. Montado Gatherings	Complementary Project	University of Évora	Project that fosters regular and structured dialogue among various stakeholders involved in the study, management, and sustainable use of the silvopastoral Montado system – includes online and in-person events and visits to estates and industrial facilities related to the Montado.
STRATEGIC AXIS II. PROMOTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ENDOGENOUS RESOURCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF ITS ECOSYSTEM ROLE
PII.1. Living Laboratory Montado 2024–2028	Anchor Project	University of Évora	Project implemented by a partnership established in January 2024, coordinated by MED – University of Évora, involving 36 entities (research institutions, producer and local development associations, landowners, and companies linked to the Montado). Activities include testing and validating solutions in experimental plots to increase the resilience of the Montado, focusing on soil regeneration processes, pastures, forest cover, singular elements, and biodiversity.
PII.2. Life Scrubsnet Project	Complementary Project	University of Évora	Project implemented by a partnership established in January 2024, coordinated by MED – University of Évora, involving 36 entities (research institutions, producer and local development associations, landowners, and companies linked to the Montado). Activities include testing and validating solutions in experimental plots to increase the resilience of the Montado, focusing on soil regeneration processes, pastures, forest cover, singular elements, and biodiversity.
PII.3. Montados Net Zero 2023–2025	Complementary Project	University of Évora	Project involving various partners, focused on innovation and modernization in Montado management through three themes: (1) soil carbon in agro-silvopastoral systems – enhancing the role of Montado soils in the climate transition; (2) digitalization; (3) economic evaluation of the multifunctionality of the Montado through a tailored economic model for each production unit.
PII.4. Montado’s Contribution to Climate Action | “LIFE CO2RK – Carbon Sequestration” and “TEC4Green”	Complementary Project	UNAC	Project aimed at developing Montado management plans focused on carbon sequestration, based on methodologies to be developed by scientific partners. Objectives include: (i) researching and developing methodologies, structures, and tools that contribute to increasing CO₂ sequestration and achieving zero CO₂ emissions; (ii) demonstrating and validating developed methodologies and technologies in broader real-world settings (properties).
PII.5. D4AGECOL – Digitalization for Agroecology	Complementary Project	UNAC	Project focused on assessing the contribution of GEOSUBER (a tool for monitoring cork oak mortality at farm scale) in terms of agroecological principles.
PII.6. Transform – Digital Transformation of the Forestry Sector for a Resilient and Low-Carbon Economy	Complementary Project	UNAC, INIAV	Composed of two parts: (1) “Innovation in Value Chains for Non-Wood Forest Products” (PFNL) by UNAC and (2) “Network of Experimental Forest Plots” by INIAV. The first aims to improve quality and sustainability across PFNL value chains to facilitate SME market access and increase product value through innovative marketing strategies and targeted dissemination. The second focuses on predicting forest/species evolution in the context of climate change through the installation and periodic measurement of experimental and permanent plots.
PII.7. Mixed Forests of Cork Oak and Stone Pine: Management for Product Valorization, Biodiversity Promotion and Wildfire Prevention	Complementary Project	INIAV	Research project on the ecological and productive sustainability of mixed cork oak and stone pine forests in Portugal, generating practical knowledge for forest owners and managers, addressing management challenges in Montado areas where cork oak preservation is at risk.
STRATEGIC AXIS III. PRESERVATION AND VALORIZATION OF THE TERRITORY AND THE ENDOGENOUS RESOURCE
PIII.1. Environmental Interpretation Centre of Herdade dos Concelhos	Anchor Project	Municipality of Coruche	Project involving the intervention on a 165-hectare estate owned by the Municipality, creating (i) educational and cultural spaces for the dissemination and understanding of the Montado; (ii) accommodation areas; (iii) recreational and sports zones; and (iv) forestry enhancement areas.
PIII.2. Great Montado Route	Complementary Project	CIMAC	Project includes (i) a Biodiversity Study in the Montado Ecosystem; (ii) installation of support equipment for ecotrails; and (iii) implementation of the actions defined in the Great Montado Route Communication Plan.
PIII.3. Montado Interactive Centre	Complementary Project	Municipality of Portel	Initially aims to create a visitor unit for scientific information, awareness, and responsible promotion of this natural heritage through interactive technologies. In a second phase, a communication strategy will be developed and implemented to promote and disseminate the new space, expanding virtual and technological features to make it more functional and attractive.
PIII.4. Montado Textures – Artistic Residencies	Complementary Project	Landscape Observatory of Charneca	Artistic residency program (“Call for Residency Hosts”) for the development of visual arts projects focused on the cork oak and Montado, involving 3 to 5 artists from European countries.
PIII.5. Fazenda dos Pelados	Complementary Project	Welcomingmoon Lda.	Project foresees (i) the construction of sustainable, independent cabins integrated into the Cork and Holm Oak Montado, and (ii) offering experiences related to Montado management and agricultural activities; sports and physical activities in the Montado; or simply moments of relaxation and connection with nature.
STRATEGIC AXIS IV. QUALIFICATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING OF THE ECONOMIC FABRIC AND PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL DISCOVERY PROCESSES FOCUSED ON THE ENDOGENOUS RESOURCE
PIV.1. Agrofood Export – Internationalization of Agrofood Products from the Cork Oak Montado	Anchor Project	NERE, Municipality of Coruche	Project aimed at strengthening the international visibility of the agrofood sector in the Cork Oak Montado territory, particularly its products, by offering importers (potential clients) the opportunity to visit, taste, and purchase at the source. Includes the creation of an “Agrofood Route of the Cork Oak Montado,” expanding on previous PROVERE work with the “A Territory to Discover” Passport initiative.
PIV.2. Export 4.0	Complementary Project	NERE	Project focused on boosting the internationalization of SMEs in the Alentejo Region through innovative mechanisms for market research, knowledge, and access to international markets, and by promoting collective innovative initiatives that enhance the internationalization of goods and services produced in the region, aligned with the regional smart specialization strategy (RIS3).
PIV.3. More and Better Montado	Complementary Project	FILCORK	Project includes studies on the impact of climate change on cork oak productivity and Montado vitality; creation of knowledge transfer content; and implementation of the strategic communication of the CCSC – Cork Oak and Cork Competence Centre, aimed at training and informing sector stakeholders.
PIV.4. Creation of a CINCORK Branch	Complementary Project	CINCORK	Project aimed at creating a CINCORK training branch at the Cork and Cork Oak Observatory in Coruche, enabling closer support for companies in the Alentejo Region.
PIV.5. Innovation in the Integrated Global Management of the Cork Value Chain	Complementary Project	Amorim Florestal SA	Project focused on innovation in the integrated global management of the cork value chain – increasing production capacity, digitalization, and efficiency.