Key Facts

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Location
Vila do Bispo, Western Algarve
37.12103°N, -8.87824°W
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Area
2.325 hectares
23,250 m²
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Protection
Natura 2000 / PNSACV
Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina
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Classification
RAN — Apoio Agrícola
Reclassification pending → enables 7m building height
Elevation
~120m
Above sea level
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Soil
Terra rossa, pH 7.2–8.6
Limestone bedrock, Mediterranean red soils
Climate
Csb (Mediterranean)
~500mm annual rainfall, 3000+ sunshine hours
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Existing Structure
Pre-1951 agricultural ruin
4.12m height documented — basis for building permit

Project Zones

Five integrated zones designed using permaculture principles — from food forest to pollinator meadow.

Zone A: Agroforestry & Food Forest
Zone B: Native Habitat Restoration
Zone C: Building Site & Garden
Zone D: Water Management & Swales
Zone E: Apiculture & Pollinator Meadow

History & Context

Ancient Agricultural Use

For centuries this land was used for traditional dryland farming — cereals, olives, carob, and almonds. The stone walls and terraces visible today are remnants of generations of careful land stewardship.

50 Years of Abandonment

Like much of rural Algarve, the land was abandoned as agriculture declined. Natural succession has begun — cistus, lavender, and native grasses are returning, but without management, fire risk increases.

Pre-1951 Ruin

The existing agricultural ruin predates 1951, proven by historical aerial photography. At 4.12m documented height, it establishes a legal precedent for rebuilding — the foundation of our permit strategy.

Protected Landscape

Part of the PNSACV (since 1988) and Natura 2000 network. Managed under ICNF guidelines. Any intervention must enhance, not diminish, the ecological value of this protected area.

Why This Land Matters

The Challenge — and the Opportunity
Last Wild Coast

The Costa Vicentina is the last remaining undeveloped coastline in Southern Europe. What happens here sets a precedent.

Desertification Threat

+1.5°C warming since 1970. Rainfall declining. Without intervention, this landscape faces irreversible degradation.

Soil Needs Regeneration

Only 2.8% organic matter in soil — well below the 4% threshold for resilient ecosystems. Building soil is our first priority.

Proof of Concept

If renaturation works on 2.325 ha, it can work on 23,250 m². Every measurement we take adds to the evidence base.

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