Review: Guimarães Mais Floresta & Win-Win Textiles
Advancing Community Reforestation in Guimarães
The 2023–2025 Annual Report from the Guimarães Mais Floresta & Win Win Textiles partnership offers a compelling account of local action for local impact. Through two major planting events, the initiative has mobilized over 40 organizations-including companies, schools, and local authorities-to plant more than 1,600 native trees across strategic sites in Guimarães.
A Model for Community Engagement
The project’s success lies in its collaborative approach. In 2023, thirteen companies joined forces to restore the Biodiversity Route on Penha Mountain, enhancing ecological corridors and supporting local wildlife. By 2025, the movement had grown to include 35 companies, a parish council, and a school group, who together reforested the historic Pedra Fina quarry site. This not only revived a landscape scarred by past extraction and fire, but also engaged youth in hands-on environmental stewardship.
Ecological and Educational Impact
The selection of native species-such as English oak, Iberian birch, wild cherry, and cork oak-reflects a commitment to biodiversity and climate resilience. These trees will sequester an estimated 13.3 tonnes of CO₂ over five years, while improving air quality, stabilizing soils, and enriching local habitats. The involvement of schools and community groups ensures that environmental education and awareness are woven into the fabric of these efforts, inspiring the next generation of eco-citizens.
Aligned with Climate Goals
Importantly, these planting events are part of the broader Guimarães Climate Pact, which aims for climate neutrality by 2030. By fostering partnerships and shared responsibility, the project exemplifies how local initiatives can contribute to national and European sustainability targets.
Looking Ahead
The Guimarães Mais Floresta & Win Win Textiles project stands as a beacon of hope and action, demonstrating the power of collective effort in restoring natural heritage and combating climate change. As the trees grow, so too will the legacy of community-driven environmental stewardship in Guimarães.
Read the full report:
