Footage by Matthieu Paley @paleyphoto | A before-and-after drone shot of our land and agroforestry project, after a devastating fire hit it two weeks ago during a heat wave here in Portugal.
It was a hot day, and we were preparing for a workshop on regenerative agriculture. Then smoke appeared behind the hill. The rest of the day turned into a surreal experience. I witnessed the fire creep up on our land and turn more than two years of passionate work, planting a forest of around 1,500 trees and plants, to ashes in a few hours. I never thought the fire would climb all the way to the street and burn our brick houses, a caravan, and more. Fueled by adrenaline, I rushed here and there, emptying our main water-irrigation pipe down below toward the fire and trying to save what I could. But at some point, you must leave when the flames are too close, too big—and when the police and firefighters bring you to reality, telling you to get the hell out. You back up and just watch helplessly, like everyone else, trying to mentally guide the fire away. You watch its dance, its work of destruction. Then days pass and you think of it as a work of renewal, and any green blade is a miracle again. That’s where I stand now. More determined than ever to create more resilience, plant more trees, create more awareness. #forestfire#climatechange#resilience#regeneration