Serra da Gardunha has officially joined the “Nature Guardians and Sustainable Rural Development Network”, a project focused on biodiversity protection, environmental education and strengthening rural sustainability across protected areas in Portugal.
The initiative brings the Gardunha into a wider national and Lusophone network of territories working on nature conservation, ecosystem regeneration and climate resilience, with a particular focus on empowering women in rural communities as environmental leaders.
The protocol formalising the region’s participation is being signed through a partnership involving the Caminheiros da Gardunha association and Business as Nature (BasN), the organisation leading the initiative.
What Is the Nature Guardians Network?
Launched in 2023 with support from Portugal’s Environmental Fund and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), the project forms part of the broader “Women for Climate” movement connecting Portuguese-speaking countries.
The initiative aims to:
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Promote biodiversity protection
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Support sustainable rural development
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Encourage climate resilience
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Strengthen local environmental management
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Support sustainable agriculture and forestry
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Empower women as agents of environmental change
The network combines environmental conservation with social and economic development, particularly in low-density rural territories.
According to the project organisers, one of the main goals is creating “management models closer to local communities”, helping residents become more directly involved in protecting ecosystems and natural heritage.
Why Serra da Gardunha Was Chosen
The inclusion of Serra da Gardunha reflects the mountain range’s growing environmental importance within central Portugal.
Located between Fundão and Castelo Branco, the Gardunha is classified as a Regional Protected Landscape and also forms part of the Natura 2000 network due to its biodiversity and ecological significance.
The mountain range contains important water resources, forest habitats and agricultural landscapes, while also supporting tourism and traditional rural economies linked to cherries, chestnuts and mountain villages.
However, the area also faces mounting environmental pressures, including:
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Wildfire risk
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Rural abandonment
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Climate change
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Forest degradation
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Water stress
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Loss of biodiversity
In recent years, environmental protection has become an increasingly important topic locally as communities attempt to balance tourism, economic development and conservation.
Local Organisations Taking an Active Role
The Caminheiros da Gardunha association will act as one of the main local partners responsible for helping implement the network in the region.
Gardunha 21, the regional development agency linked to sustainable territorial management in the mountain range, also played a role in facilitating the partnership.
The programme includes workshops, training sessions and sustainability education initiatives designed to help participants develop skills in areas such as:
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Environmental sustainability
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Entrepreneurship in protected areas
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Climate adaptation
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Forest management
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Sustainable agriculture
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Ecosystem regeneration
Organisers say the long-term objective is not simply environmental awareness, but creating practical community-based projects capable of improving territorial resilience and supporting rural economies.
A Different Model for Rural Development
The project arrives at a time when the future of Portugal’s interior territories is under growing debate.
Across Beira Baixa and the wider Centro region, discussions around renewable energy, tourism, forestry and land use are increasingly raising questions about how rural areas should develop while preserving their environmental identity.
Supporters of initiatives like the Nature Guardians Network argue that local communities must play a much stronger role in environmental decision-making rather than relying exclusively on top-down policies.
For Serra da Gardunha, participation in the network could also help strengthen its profile as one of the region’s most important natural landscapes at a time when sustainable tourism and environmental protection are becoming increasingly linked.
As climate pressures intensify across southern Europe, projects focused on biodiversity, community resilience and sustainable rural management are likely to become increasingly important for the future of inland Portugal.
Sources
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https://noticiasdacovilha.pt/serra-da-gardunha-integra-a-rede-de-guardias-da-natureza/
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https://radio-covilha.pt/2026/04/noticias/serra-da-gardunha-integra-rede-internacional-de-guardias-da-natureza/
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https://guardiasdanatureza.pt/
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https://businessasnature.org/lancamento-rede-de-guardias-da-natureza-na-malcata-e-gardunha/
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https://www.inature.pt/areas-classificadas/area/?aid=Paisagem-Protegida-Regional-da-Serra-da-Gardunha