The Portuguese Basketball Federation (FPB) and the Betclic League are transforming an abandoned olive grove into an agroforestry forest of about 2,500 square meters in the Serra da Arrábida. The initiative, named the Liga Forest, is associated with the 24 teams of the Betclic Men’s and Women’s Leagues and aims to restore the space by creating an ecosystem with native species, trees, shrubs, and some horticultural plants, according to a press release.
According to the same source, the initiative is part of the commitment undertaken by the FPB and the Betclic League with the Sports for Climate Action program, promoted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which seeks to involve the sports sector in responding to climate change.
The area is located in a zone of protected natural heritage in the Serra da Arrábida, recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. The regeneration of the space is supported by Biovilla, an organization with experience in sustainable development, agroforestry, and reforestation.
24 agroforestry nests
The Liga Forest is organized into 24 agroforestry nests, each associated with one of the teams in the two leagues. With a hexagonal structure and about 2.5 meters in diameter, each nest was installed on soil prepared to support a high density and diversity of species.
The composition prioritizes native trees and shrubs, complemented by some horticultural species. Each nest has its own combination of plants, including species that flower or bear fruit with colors associated with the respective teams.
Vegetal diversity aims to create conditions for the presence of insects, birds and microorganisms, while contributing to the improvement of soil conditions. Among the expected effects are the increase of organic matter, a higher capacity for water infiltration and the reduction of erosion.
The system was also designed to contribute to the regulation of the water cycle and the microclimate, reinforcing the space’s resilience to periods of drought and to episodes of intense rainfall. The model also aims to increase carbon sequestration and reduce the need for external fertilizers and pesticides.
“The Liga Forest is a concrete example of the FPB’s commitment to sustainability and the responsibility we have as an institution. We want basketball to contribute to a more conscious society mobilized for environmental challenges, and this project allows us to turn that commitment into action, recovering a space and creating a legacy that will continue to grow in the coming years,” said João Carvalho, president of the FPB.
Growth over the coming years
The initiative is currently in the third phase of implementation. After ground preparation and installation of infrastructures, including the nests, the irrigation system, fencing and access, followed the planting of the different species. The current stage is focused on the management of the nests and the growth of the main species.
The management of the space also includes measures related to risks associated with climate change and natural phenomena, namely the prevention of fires, the response to drought periods and the management of potential floods.
The evolution will be gradual. In the next two to three years, an increase in vegetation cover, shaded areas and fruit production is expected, as well as greater resilience to seasonal variations. The expectation is that the space will progressively consolidate as an edible forest.
Within a horizon of about five years, the Liga Forest is expected to show greater plant density, more shade and a growing interconnection between the different nests, through the development of canopies and roots.
“Sustainability must translate into concrete and consistent actions, and the Liga Forest is an example of that vision. We are talking about a project that links sport, its communities and the recovery of a natural space, with a long-term perspective. As a Betclic Ligas partner, we want to contribute so that the growth of Portuguese basketball also happens through initiatives that leave a positive impact beyond the game,” says Tiago Simões, Country Manager of Betclic Portugal.
An Agroforestry to accompany
Spring is expected to be one of the periods of greatest visual transformation of the space. March and April will coincide with a period of vegetation growth and flowering, allowing observation of the evolution of the planted species and the increase in green cover.
The initiative thus aims to associate the environmental dimension with sports activity, following the transformation of an area previously abandoned into a space of greater plant diversity and with functions of food production, water retention, soil protection and habitat creation.
More information about the Liga Forest will be available on the website of the Portuguese Basketball Federation.
