On 26 February, the University of Algarve hosted the initiative at its Gambelas Campus, “Sowing the Future – Cork Oak Acorn Planting”, developed within the framework of the European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), under Task 4.4 – SEA-EU Goes Greener. The initiative brought together more than 60 participants, including students, academic staff and professional staff, around the themes of sustainability, biodiversity and community engagement.
The opening session was attended by the Rector of the University of Algarve, Alexandra Teodósio, who welcomed participants; the Vice-Rector for Partnerships and European University, Patrícia Pinto, who framed the initiative within the SEA-EU context; the Pro-Rector for Sustainability Sciences, Vânia Sousa, who coordinated the on-site activity; and the Vice-Rector for Digitalisation and Infrastructure, Marisol Correia, who reinforced the institution’s commitment to building a more resilient university aligned with environmental challenges.
At the start of the activity, contributions were also made by Professor Inês Duarte (FCT), representing the winning project of the “Greening Our Campus” competition — a SEA-EU initiative that promotes sustainable ideas developed by the academic community — from which the proposal that led to the “Sowing the Future” action originated. Professor José Monteiro (FCT) also played a key role by mobilising a group of students to participate in the activity, actively contributing to its implementation.
Developed within SEA-EU, this initiative reflects one of the Alliance’s key priorities: bringing sustainability closer to the academic community through concrete, participatory actions with local impact. Throughout the morning, participants collected and planted dozens of cork oak acorns across different areas of the campus, supported by monitors, in an atmosphere of strong engagement and collaboration. The activity also benefited from the contribution of more than 20 volunteers from the UAlg V+ programme, who were essential in the organisation and logistical support.
Beyond its participatory nature, the initiative directly contributes to the UAlg Horizon 2030 Strategic Plan, within the framework of the Gambelas Campus climate adaptation plan. The choice of the cork oak — a native species associated with the later stages of ecological succession — enhances the campus’s resilience, particularly in relation to wildfire risk, while also promoting plant and animal biodiversity.
This initiative highlights how the connection between institutional strategy and on-the-ground action within SEA-EU can generate tangible impact, actively involving the academic community in building more sustainable and future-ready campuses.
To sow today is to care for tomorrow.
