© 2023 Veredas da Estrela
Veredas da Estrela* is a community association, founded after the 2022 wildfires that devastated 25% of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park in Central Portugal. We are based in the mountain villages of Figueiró da Serra and Freixo da Serra.
We want to create living communities and ecosystems more resilient to forest fires, and thus prepare our villages for the future while being an example for others.
Do you want to help us prevent fires and restore ecosystems? Come and participate in one of our next actions! Or become a member of Veredas da Estrela.
*Literally: paths of Estrela. Veredas, locally called bredas, are trails, created and used by human and/or wildlife. The designation originates from proto-celtic uɸorēdos, with manifold derivations in European languages.
I like to be part of something involving the community and it's future, connecting past and present. To recover memories, transforming them into something new.
I have always enjoyed planting and caring for my land, but I enjoy even more having a group come together to keep the land clean and wooded, to reclaim trails and to socialise.
I want to do more for the ecosystem, for biodiversity, and for our environment. And I really like to participate activities that care about sustainability and future generations.
I want to leave something better for the future, for these two villages to have hiking trails, a sound environment, proper fire safety, and a good quality of life in general.
Last summer's fires gave me the final push: I want to tackle the root of the problem. And it motivates me even more to work together towards goals that belong to everyone!
We want to preserve and regenerate ecosystems in the territories of Figueiró and Freixo da Serra and in the Serra da Estrela.
We want to improve prevention and first intervention in the event of forest fires.
We want to carry out activities that contribute to making the villages and communities even more alive.
For sustainable land management, we want to encourage and stimulate the traditional extensive agro-silva-pastoral activity.
Corinna Lawrenz
Pedro Faustinho
Carl Jones
Júlio Cardoso
Rafaela Mapril
Paula Tomé
Nik Völker
Tiago Coelho
Pavel Vulfin
Daniel Paiva
Susana Cabral
Pavel Vulfin
Paulo Cavacas
Arménio Teixeira
Manuel Ferreira
Beira Alta TV visited us for the traditinal summer rye harvest, sown at one of the interventions zones affected by the 2022 wilfire.
The Biosfera programme of RTP visited Videmonte, Manteigas, and Figueiró & Freixo for a piece on "Communities and Sustainability" in the Serra da Estrela.
The news team of SIC visited Figueiró and Freixo to produce their "Springs of Life" news story on the work of Veredas da Estrela and some of our neighbours.
Below we have listed some ways of supporting our work as a non-profit community association as a company or as an individual.
Join us as a neighbour or from abroad! Fill out the membership form and you may not only work with us but you'll also be invited to working groups and assemblies.
Want to get your team involved in hands-on ecosystem restoration and have a unique experience with options of hiking, swimming, or food tasting in the mountains? Get in touch!
Support us with a one-time donation. You may transfer to IBAN PT50 0007 0000 0064 8865 1082 3 or via MB WAY 926910673. For a receipt please send us your details.
Veredas da Estrela is part of the One Percent for the Planet initiative, a platform that allows companies to donate 1% of their annual sales to vetted environmental partners. Supporters of the platform can select which organisation they wish to donate to. The profile of Veredas da Estrela is available here.
Veredas da Estrela Association for the Future of the Communities of Figueiró da Serra & Freixo da Serra
Rua da Portela s/n, 6290-071 Figueiró da Serra, Gouveia
NIPC PT517266431
Any questions or curiosities? Please get in touch with us by email or by joining one of our activities. Upcoming events will be posted on our Facebook page and for the bigger picture, a yearly calendar is available through our Activities Plan (Portuguese).
You can consult the § articles of our association here (Portuguese).
And, of course, we invite you to become a member of Veredas!