RUPTURE AND REGENERATION | 2024—ONGOING
Over the past century, Portugal has faced significant environmental and social desertification. These challenges are anticipated to intensify across the Mediterranean region, affecting both Southern Europe and Northern Africa, especially as climate change worsens. Severe drought, soil erosion, and the expansion of intensive agricultural practices threaten the stability of ancient landscapes and ecologies. Simultaneously, the migration of rural populations to coastal cities impoverishes inland villages and smaller towns, exacerbating social and economic disparities. This migration not only depletes rural areas but also risks severing ties to traditional land stewardship practices that have long sustained the montado ecosystem.
In response to these pressing issues, Portugal, in alignment with the United Nations, has outlined several strategies to combat desertification. One of the most important tools in this fight is the montado—a millennia-old human-made ecosystem centered around the cork oak (Quercus suber, or sobreiro). This multifunctional landscape, which supports agriculture, grazing, and forestry, is among the most resilient ecosystems in the region. The montado plays a crucial role in promoting biodiversity, enhancing soil water retention, and fostering both social and agricultural resilience. The montado is a sparse forest, predominantly of cork oaks, interspersed with other tree species. It supports a diverse range of Mediterranean fauna, including insects, birds, mammals, and a wide array of plants, mosses, and fungi. This ecosystem spans the warmer, humid, and sub-humid areas of the western Mediterranean Basin, covering approximately 1.5 million hectares in Europe and another 1 million in North Africa.
Characterized by flat or gently rolling hills, montados are planted with cork oaks spaced widely apart. These ecosystems support a variety of agricultural products, including cereals, honey, game, charcoal, meat, and dairy, with cork production serving as the primary source of income. Cork oak montados not only support biodiversity but also play a critical role in carbon sequestration. Studies show that with an average tree cover of 30%, montados can sequester up to 140 g/m²/year—comparable to North American deciduous oak forests.
Despite the stable area of montado coverage in Portugal (around 700,000 hectares over the last three decades), tree density has decreased significantly, undermining the ecosystem’s capacity to combat desertification, fire, and soil erosion. For a healthy cork oak ecosystem, there should be 60–100 trees per hectare. However, tree density has been steadily declining, which weakens the montado’s ability to retain water and resist droughts. In 1995, fewer than 20% of farms had fewer than 40 trees per hectare; by 2006, this figure had risen to 30%, signaling a growing threat to this fragile ecosystem. Meanwhile, the number of farms with more than 80 trees per hectare dropped from 50% to a third during the same period. Thus, while the overall area has remained stable, tree numbers have notably diminished.
The Rupture and Regeneration project addresses these challenges by exploring the potential of the montado ecosystem through the creation of bio-based materials. By developing a library of biomaterial recipes using cork and oxidized soil from the montado, the project showcases innovative approaches to sustainability. Artistic and design practices are integrated with ecological knowledge, creating a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, artists, and local communities. This project emphasizes understanding ecosystems through artistic and design approaches, bridging creative and scientific disciplines to promote sustainable and regenerative practices. By doing so, we foster collaboration between different systems and species, leading to new methods for maintaining both environmental and social resilience.
Beyond material development, our goal is to ignite conversations that emphasize the urgent need for regenerative practices, as montados and other ecosystems face escalating pressures from the ongoing climate crisis. As the climate continues to change, the sustainable management of the montado and other similar ecosystems is critical for mitigating desertification and ensuring the resilience of both natural and human communities. We seek not only to develop practical solutions but also to inspire a broader dialogue about our collective responsibility in regenerating landscapes that are essential to life in the Mediterranean and beyond.
Collaborative work with Tiago Torres-Campos (Rhode Island School of Design).
Exhibitions
2024 · RE(volutions)
Cultivamos Cultura, São Luís, Portugal
