The Mata Nacional de Leiria, widely known as the “Pinhal d’El-Rei,” carries seven centuries of Portuguese history in its roots. It was its timber that supplied the shipyards of the Age of Discoveries — not a legend, but a well-documented historical fact. A forest that helped Portugal reach the world.
Yet this same forest has faced years of extreme fragility. The wildfires of October 2017 destroyed 86% of its area. What survived the flames, around 1,200 hectares of mature trees, was, almost entirely, brought down by the recent Storm Kristin, suffering blow after blow.
It is within this context that SFgo decided it could not remain indifferent.
On April 17th, our team travelled to the Mata Nacional de Leiria to take part in an environmental volunteering initiative, in partnership with the ZERO, focused on the regeneration of this ecosystem. Our work centered on the control and removal of invasive alien species, particularly acacia and ice plant, which spread aggressively and hinder the recovery of native vegetation. We also contributed to supporting the success of previous plantations by applying wood chips around newly established plants.
It was a day of genuine, hands-on work — with our hands in the soil and our feet in the forest. An experience that brought the entire team closer together, regardless of their functional area, creating a meaningful connection to a cause that can often feel distant from our daily routines and office environment.
Our sincere thanks to ZERO for guiding us in this mission. The “Pinhal d’El-Rei” deserves to be restored to what it once was and we want to be part of that story. 🌱
