Project Dates

Start: 2025

The Story

In Portugal reforestation of 80.000 trees at around 20ha was urgently needed to avoid soil erosion and to reforest the area which was lost in a wildfire. The goal of the project is to succeed in the reforestation project and reduce young tree mortality as much as possible in a very difficult environment. Green Legacy’s Polygrain, a water-retaining, biodegradeable granulate, was used during planting to support the young trees, providing them with sufficient water and nutrition during the first 3 years of growing. Polygrain retains more than 200 times of its own weight of water and nutrients and gives it back to the plants when they need it, doing so drought periods of 8-12 weeks can be covered, helping plants to sustain drought periods.

Success Factor | Hero Moment

Green Legacy focuses on practical, field-ready climate solutions that can be implemented immediately within existing agricultural, forestry, and urban systems The decisive moment came when Green Legacy was contacted by WWF Portugal to find a solution to support the reforestation of 20 hectares in southern Portugal, a region where extreme drought and thin soils make tree establishment highly challenging. Applying Green Legacy’s water-smart soil solutions, young trees are able to survive and establish despite harsh conditions, demonstrating that restoring soil water retention can make reforestation possible even in the most climate-stressed landscapes. This project confirmes the real-world relevance and scalability of their approach.