EcoAtivo is an ecosystem restoration community based in central Portugal, in the village of Paúl, municipality of Covilhã, on the southern foothills of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. Their work is rooted in the Ananda Kalyani area and surrounding rural landscapes, characterised by steep slopes, granite soils, seasonal water scarcity, and a long history of small-scale agriculture. Much of the land under restoration on has been degraded by decades of abandonment, recurrent wildfires, erosion, and past extractive or inappropriate agricultural practices, resulting in compacted soils, loss of biodiversity, and disrupted water cycles.

Founded in 2020, EcoAtivo emerged in response to increasing ecological and social vulnerability in the region, particularly following severe fire seasons and rural depopulation. Their mission is to regenerate ecosystems while strengthening local communities, reconnecting people with land stewardship, and creating viable regenerative livelihoods. Their  vision is a resilient landscape where water, soil, biodiversity, and human communities co-evolve in balance.

EcoAtivo’s restoration activities focus on soil regeneration, water retention and watershed restoration, agroforestry, native species recovery, and fire-resilient landscape design. They work through hands-on interventions such as contour earthworks, assisted natural regeneration, and diversified planting, guided by principles from permaculture, syntropic agriculture, and deep ecology. These actions are combined with education, research, and pilot projects that link traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary regenerative practices.

EcoAtivo operates within a rural socio-economic context marked by ageing populations, limited economic opportunities, and increasing climate risk. Community involvement is central to their approach, engaging local residents actively.

Impact story