Implementing a saddle pond in Vale do Junco, Odemira

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The saddle pond we are implementing in Vale do Junco, Odemira, is a crucial element in the keyline design mainframe of the project. It is strategically located in a saddle point of the terrain, where the water flows naturally and accumulates during the rainy season. The saddle pond will serve as a water reserve, providing […]

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Implementing a ridge pond in Cancelas, Odemira

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In the Cancelas project, we are excited to announce the implementation of a ridge pond, a key feature of our water management system. Ridge ponds are designed to slow down and capture surface water runoff, allowing it to slowly infiltrate into the soil and recharge groundwater aquifers. Our ridge pond is located at a strategic […]

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Post Fire interventions – What to do?

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New and Improved Post-Fire Intervention Guide Poster: A Resource for Ecological Regeneration and Landscape Structuring Title: Post-Fire Intervention Guide in Portugal: Restoring the Landscape We are excited to introduce the latest edition of our Post-Fire Intervention Guide, a valuable tool for ecological regeneration and landscape restructuring in Portugal. Originally released in 2017, this guide has […]

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Bringing Keyline design to the Montado

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The Montado system, a unique agroforestry ecosystem found in the Iberian Peninsula, has been facing serious degradation in recent years due to various factors such as climate change, overgrazing, and unsustainable land management practices. In response to this crisis, Terracrua Design has been working to implement regenerative practices in the Montado system, with keyline design […]

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What is the Holistic grazing management?

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Holistic management is a comprehensive approach to managing grasslands, livestock, and water resources that focuses on the interrelationships between these components. Developed by Allan Savory, a biologist and farmer from Zimbabwe, the system has been adopted by ranchers and farmers worldwide as a regenerative and effective way to manage their land and livestock. One of […]

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Interview in “Voz do Campo” magazine, February 2019

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What was done and what should have been done following the major fires of the last two years in Portugal? Terracrua Design (terracruadesign.com), a small company based in Faro, has become a reference in projects related to ecology and sustainability, forest regeneration, and post-fire strategies. Nuno Mamede is a consultant, designer, and project manager there, […]

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What is the scale of permanence?

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At Terracrua Design, Regenerative Landscape Planning integrates principles of Permaculture Design, Holistic Grazing Management, various “schools” of Regenerative Agriculture and Forestry, as well as Keyline Design, through its key tool, the “Keyline Scale of Relative Permanence”. Despite its complicated name, this intuitive and sensible concept serves as an essential tool for consciously, efficiently and intelligently […]

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What is a Zone 5?

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In permaculture, the concept of zoning or sectors is fundamental. Zoning may vary according to the needs of each person or project. As a rule, Zone 5 is a more wild area, with its main characteristic being ecological conservation and regeneration; in this zone, little or no intervention is made. It is a good observation […]

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12 reasons why you should plant hedges

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Let’s dive right in: hedges are an indispensable element of our designs, never to be left out, and always a success. Despite this, they’re often seen as a second thought or optional, placed after production. But this is misguided. It’s akin to planting an orchard before a hedge or postponing the hedge until “there’s time.” […]

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