The Senhora da Alegria Bio-Reserve holds a very special place in our hearts and in the hearts of all who visit it — a true oasis of biodiversity in the region, a reservoir of life, a place for contemplation and exploration for any naturalist.
Thanks to the solidarity of those who believe in this dream, we reached our target of €22,000 to acquire new land: fertile ground for biodiversity, refuge for wildlife, and shelter for future generations.
This territory is more than trees — it is living habitat, clean air, and the memory of the region's original landscape. When native forests disappear through indiscriminate clearing, the spread of invasive species, or abandonment, we lose more than trunks and leaves — we lose biodiversity, ecological balance, and the lungs of a valley.
With Crowdfunding 2022, we gave nature a voice. We supported the purchase of land to ensure that valuable woodland can never again be destroyed. We are restoring watercourses, creating ponds, building shelters for animals, installing nest boxes, and regenerating habitats so that wildlife can once again thrive.
Phase 1 — Goal reached: €22,000
The first phase focused on acquiring land immediately adjacent to the Senhora da Alegria Bio-Reserve — extraordinary spaces we wanted to protect from the fate of the nearby wetland woodland that was recently cleared, as well as plots requiring ecological restoration work. The aim is to eliminate existing imbalances and restore the environmental stability that once prevailed here.
Phase 2 — Goal not reached: €11,000
The second phase aimed to acquire an additional plot for an interpretive centre — a space to introduce visitors to the history of Milvoz and the natural values of the Bio-Reserve. The site would also have diversified the reserve's natural heritage with a beautiful traditional olive grove, and opened possibilities for a native tree nursery and improved paths connecting the reserve's areas of interest.
Thanks to all contributions received, Milvoz is now in the process of acquiring the most ecologically significant plots. All expansions will be communicated publicly, and a map updating the new areas of the Senhora da Alegria Bio-Reserve will be published in due course.