Associação ALDEIA

description of organisation

ALDEIA is an environmental non-governmental organization. It was created in the Northeast of Portugal in 2003 and it aims to contribute to sustainable development, based on the conservation of nature and the preservation of culture and traditions of rural areas.
ALDEIA promotes education and training actions in the areas of environment and nature conservation; dissemination and enhancement of rural culture and traditions, and promotion of volunteering. To disseminate traditional ways of life, ALDEIA tries to create new ideas and lines of action for a constant revitalization of rural spaces, using new technologies and renewing concepts in the search for a modern and dynamic rural world that is both healthy and sustainable. At the same time, ALDEIA invests in the development of activities in different regions in partnership with different local entities.
Since 2007, it manages the Wildlife Ecology, Rehabilitation and Surveillance Centre (CERVAS) in Serra da Estrela Natural Park and, since 2009, the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Investigation Centre (RIAS) in Ria Formosa Natural Park. CERVAS and RIAS main objectives are the rehabilitation of wild animals to release them back to nature, research of the risk factors for wildlife conservation and environmental education. These are part of the National Network of Wildlife Recovery Centers.
The work of CERVAS and RIAS consists in the reception of injured or debilitated wildlife, their treatment and, later, their release back to Nature. In addition to these, the reception of dead animals is also important to understand the causes of death and, thus, to determine the risk factors for wild populations. If the rehabilitation work has a direct and immediate impact on the well-being of each animal, that work associated with scientific research and environmental education can have an important impact on the conservation of wildlife populations locally and/or globally.
Among the various activities that have been carried out since the establishment of the association, the following stand out:
- Sounds and Ruralities Festival
- Eco-construction Days and Workshops
- Abandoned Village Recovery Days
- Biodiversity and Rural World Days
- Wild Mushroom Identification and Conservation Courses
- Ethno botany and Wild Flora Identification Courses
- Birds of Prey Identification, Biology and Conservation Courses
- Courses and Journeys on Medicine and Wildlife Recovery
- Participation in the Antidote Program – Portugal
- Environmental Education Sessions
- Cinema Meeting: Views on the Rural World
- Endangered Rural Activities Project
- CEIFA Project - Environmental Education, Interpretation and Training Center
- Expeditions, Marathons and Nature Photography Courses
- Field Trips, Tours and Thematic Expeditions
- Participation in Fairs, Shows and Miscellaneous Events
- International Work Camps for Heritage Recovery