It’s common knowledge that:

• if the air is polluted, it will help to plant a tree…
• if it’s too hot, it will help to plant a tree…
• if the soil is degraded, it will help to plant a tree…
• if the place is too windy, it will help to plant a tree…
• if we want to protect our water, it will help if we plant a tree…
• if there is a lack of food, it will help if we plant a tree…

… and if so, we should never underestimate the importance of planting! And that’s why one of the most beautiful efforts to defend and promote our natural heritage is back – so, on the mornings of 6th and 7th November we will once again put our hands in the earth in support of “OMV – Operation Green Mountain”.

Yes, “Operation Green Mountain” is back in the Algarve’s boroughs and, on these two mornings, between 9.30am and 12 noon, we’ll witness the offering and planting of around 42.000 shrub and tree species offered by Zoomarine, as part of the “Together We Protect” philosophy. And with OMV-22 should return many hundreds of hearts (in the 2019 edition there were 4’174 in 07 hours) that wish to protect our delicate ecosystems.

This citizenship and social responsibility action started in 2016, after the terrible fires in Monchique. Since then, and always during one or two mornings in November, and counting 2022, more than 126’000 plants have already been offered – of which around 100’000 specimens, of about 60 species, will have been planted with the generous and happy help of about 11,000 volunteers.

In 2022, eight municipalities will be partners in OMV-22: Silves, Loulé, Portimão, São Brás de Alportel, Olhão, Faro, Castro Marim and Lagos; joined by several entities: Zoomarine, University of the Algarve, Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests IP, Portuguese Environment Agency IP, Algarve Tourism Region, CCDR- Alg (Europe Direct), Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth IP, ALGAR SA, Águas do Algarve SA, Regional Delegation of Education of the Algarve, and Olimar Reisen – all united for the defence and promotion of our Future and our Environment.

Yes, we know that this repeated annual offer of a few tens of thousands of plants will not change the world … But we are convinced that the many hundreds of people who will once again join forces, emotions and hands to protect our Algarve will carry in their hearts this will – and this is how we change the Planet and our Society for the better. Yes, because … Together We Protect!