Portugal, Castro Verde, 2022/02/03. António Lúcio, a farmer in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo, stands on the dry bed of a stream that crosses his property, the Herdade das Sorraias. A severe drought is afflicting Portugal. It is particularly acute in its Alentejo region, which studies show can become a desert because of climate change. Photograph by André Vieira. Castro Verde Portugal
Portugal, Castro Verde, 2022/02/03. A water tank in a dry field in the Herdade das Sorraias, a rural property in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo. A severe drought is afflicting Portugal. It is particularly acute in its Alentejo region, which studies show can become a desert because of climate change. Photograph by André Vieira. Castro Verde Portugal
Portugal, Arraiolos, 2022/02/02. An abandoned wine factory near the village of Arraiolos, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. A severe drought is afflicting Portugal. It is particularly acute in its Alentejo, which studies show is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change in Europe and could become a desert soon. In the last decade, it lost almost 7% of its population. Photograph by André Vieira Arraiolos Portugal
Portugal, Castro Verde, 2022/02/03. Jacinto Mestre, a farmer in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo, opens a bag of animal feed to spread over the dry pasture for part of his herd of 400 sheep to eat. The last time he remembers a drought that severe was in the 1980s. The crops he planted in October to feed his animals failed for lack of rain. He has resorted to giving them animal feed and hay imported from Spain, which prices are way above normal because of the high fuel prices. Photograph by André Vieira Castro Verde Portugal
Portugal, Castro Verde, 2022/02/03. Animal feed spread over the dry pasture by Jacinto Mestre, a farmer in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo, for part of his herd of 400 sheep to eat. The last time he remembers a drought that severe was in the 1980s. The crops he planted in October to feed his animals failed for lack of rain. He has resorted to giving them animal feed and hay imported from Spain, which prices are way above normal because of the high fuel prices. Photograph by André Vieira Castro Verde Portugal
Portugal, Castro Verde, 2022/02/03. Sheep drink water at an almost dry water reservoir in the property of Jacinto Mestre, a farmer in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo. Mestre has 400 sheep. The last time he remembers a drought that severe was in the 1980s. The crops planted in October to feed his animals failed for lack of rain. He has resorted to giving them animal feed and hay imported from Spain, which prices are way above normal because of the high fuel prices. Photograph by André Vieira. Castro Verde Portugal
Portugal, Ourique, 2022/02/04. Hay loaded on a trailer ready to be taken to a dry pasture to feed cattle in the property of farmer Fernando Felix, on the margins of the Monte da Rocha Dam. The Dam is one of the most important water bodies in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo. It is at less than 15% of its regular capacity. A severe drought is afflicting Portugal. It is particularly acute in its Alentejo region, which studies show can become a desert because of climate change. Photograph by André Vieira. Ourique Portugal
Portugal, Casével, 2022/02/03. Antonio Lopes, a farmer in the Campo Branco sub-region of Alentejo, carries two newborn calfs through a dry pasture back to their shed in his property, the Herdade da Barrigoa. Lopes raises 1,400 sheep spread around different properties in the region. A severe drought is afflicting Portugal. It is particularly acute in its Alentejo region, which studies show can become a desert because of climate change. Photograph by André Vieira. Casevel Portugal
Portugal, Casével, 2022/02/04. The ruins of the Casével train station along the Neves - Corvo railroad branch of the Alentejo railway line. Train services on the rail branch, which serves a largely rural and impoverished area, were discontinued in 2012. Alentejo is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change in Europe. It lost almost 7% of its residents in the last decade. Photograph by André Vieira. Casevel Portugal
Portugal, Ourique, 2022/02/04. Train tracks for the Neves - Corvo railroad branch of the Alentejo railway line. Train services on the rail branch, which serves a largely rural and impoverished area, were discontinued in 2012. Alentejo is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change in Europe. It lost almost 7% of its residents in the last decade. Photograph by André Vieira. Ourique Portugal
Portugal, Portel, 2022/05/15. The Alqueva hidro-electric dam, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The dam, built in 2002, created the largest artificial lake in Europe, which provides water for 130,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture. Photograph by Andre Vieira Portel Portugal
Portugal, Portel, 2022/05/15. Touristic viewpoint on the Alqueva hidro-electric dam, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The dam, built in 2002, created the largest artificial lake in Europe, which provides water for 130,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture. Photograph by Andre Vieira Portel Portugal
Portugal, Beja, 2022/07/12. José Pedro Salema, President of the state-owned water company EDIA, which provides water for irrigated industrial agriculture that uses water from the Alqueva dam, stands on a jetty built on the margins of an artificial lake that is part of the Alqueva irrigation project, near the city of Beja.. Photo by Andre Vieira Beja Portugal
Portugal, Portel, 2022/05/15. House in an olive plantation on the margins of the Alqueva lake, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The lake, created with the construction of the Alqueva hidro-electric dam, built in 2002, is the largest artificial lake in Europe. It provides water for 130,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture. Photograph by Andre Vieira Portel Portugal
Portugal, Portel, 2022/05/15. Tourist boats arrive from a tour around the Alqueva lake, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The lake, created with the construction of the Alqueva hidro-electric dam, built in 2002, is the largest artificial lake in Europe. It provides water for 130,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture. Photograph by Andre Vieira Portel Portugal
Portugal, Alqueva, 2022/05/15. Lifeguard station on Alqueva Beach, an artificial beach on the margins of the Alqueva lake, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The lake, created with the construction of the Alqueva hidro-electric dam, built in 2002, is the largest artificial lake in Europe. It provides water for 130,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture. Photograph by Andre Vieira Alqueva Portugal
Portugal, Moura, 2022/05/16. Wheat fields in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Photograph by Andre Vieira Moura Portugal
Portugal, Pedrógão, 2022/05/16. Plantation of olives using the super-intensive model inside the irrigated perimeter of the Alqueva Dam, which extends over 130,000 hectares in the Alentejo region of Portugal, on the edge of the village of Pedrógão. Residents fear the extensive use of pesticides required by the super intensive system of agriculture will endanger their health because of the proximity of the fields to the village. Photograph by Andre Vieira Pedrogão Portugal
Portugal, Beja, 2022/06/07. Immigrant workers from Moldova plant melons at a farm inside the irrigated perimeter of the Alqueva Dam, which extends over 130,000 hectares in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Photograph by Andre Vieira Beja Portugal
Portugal, Ciborro, 2022/06/17. Workers harvesting cork at the Herdade da Parreira, which champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Ciborro Portugal
Portugal, Ciborro, 2022/06/17. A piece of just harvested cork at the Herdade da Parreira, which champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Ciborro Portugal
Portugal, Ciborro, 2022/06/17. A wheat field being harvested at the Herdade da Parreira, which champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Ciborro Portugal
Portugal, Ciborro, 2022/06/17. Nuno Marques, helped by his friend Mario Carvalho, takes samples of soil from one of his farms, the Herdade da Parreira, to evaluate its organic content. Marques champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Ciborro Portugal
Portugal, Ciborro, 2022/06/17. A recently harvested wheat field at the Herdade da Parreira, which champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Ciborro Portugal
Portugal, Serpa, 2022/07/12. Workers at Risca Grande, a manufacturer of premium organic olive oils, instal irrigation infra-structure on a new plot of land they recently acquired inside the irrigated perimeter of the Alqueva Dam, which extends over 130,000 hectares in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Photograph by Andre Vieira Serpa Portugal
Portugal, Beja, 2022/07/06. New plantation of olives using the super-intensive model inside the irrigated perimeter of the Alqueva Dam, which extends over 130,000 hectares in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Photograph by Andre Vieira Beja Portugal
Portugal, Évora, 2022/07/06. Birds fly over a rural property in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Photograph by Andre Vieira Evora Portugal
Portugal, Ciborro, 2022/06/17. A mural made from tiles depicting a tradition landscape from the Alentejo region of Portugal decorating one wall at the main house of the Herdade da Parreira, which champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Ciborro Portugal
Portugal, Montemor-o-Novo, 2022/07/11. Alfredo Sedim, owner of the Herdade Freixo do Meio, an organic farm that champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Montemor-o-Novo Portugal
Portugal, Montemor-o-Novo, 2022/07/11. Barrosão cattle, an ancient breed native to Portugal, grazes at a field in the Herdade Freixo do Meio, an organic farm that champions the traditional Montado method of agriculture characteristic of the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Montado method combines cattle, forestry and agriculture and preserves the traditional landscape and eco-system of the region. Photograph by Andre Vieira Montemor-o-Novo Portugal
Portugal, Praia da Tocha, 2022/03/02. The remains of the Pinhal de Leiria, a pine forest that was planted in the XIII century to prevent the advance of sand dunes over farmland along the central coast of Portugal. In 2017 it was devastated by the most lethal forest fires in Portuguese history, which consumed 249.852 hectares of forests and killed 114. In the last 20 years, Portugal lost 34% of its forests to fires. Photograph by Andre Vieira Praia da Tocha Portugal
Portugal, Praia da Tocha, 2022/03/02. Marcelo Bandeira, an immigrant from Brazil, has worked for the last five years clearing burnt trees around the area devastated by the most lethal forest fires in Portuguese history, which in 2017 consumed 249.852 hectares of forests and killed 114 people. In the last 20 years, Portugal lost 34% of its forests to fires. Photograph by Andre Vieira Praia da Tocha Portugal
Portugal, Figueiró dos Vinhos, 2022/03/03. A boat sits on the dry riverbed of the Zêzere River near its encounter with the Tagus River, the most important river in Portugal. The Zêzere supplies most of the water consumed by Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Photograph by Andre Vieira Figueiro dos Vinhos Portugal
Portugal, Figueiró dos Vinhos, 2022/03/03. The dry riverbed of the Zêzere River near its encounter with the Tagus River, the most important river in Portugal. The Zêzere supplies most of the water consumed by Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Photograph by Andre Vieira Figueiro dos Vinhos Portugal
In 2022 many southern European countries suffered their worst drought of this century and fires decimated thousands of hectares of forests. It was not an isolated event, but a glimpse of what soon will likely be the new normal of the region. Studies show that climate change will profoundly transform the environmental and social reality of the south of the European continent. Parts of it will likely become a desert before the end of the century. One of the most affected countries will be Portugal.
In the last 20 years, Portugal has lost 34% of its forests to fires and, in its south, 8 of the last ten years were of drought. The Portuguese economy failed to grow in the past 30 years and its interior loses population at a fast pace. Many villages lie almost deserted in the landscape, their elders dying of old age and the young migrating in search of opportunities elsewhere. The situation is not much different across the border in Spain.
Despite all the warnings about the existential challenges the region faces as the climate changes rapidly, little is being done to prepare for their most serious consequences. Even less is being done to try to avert them. In most places, it's business as usual, an insistence on economic models, and agricultural and land management practices, that haven’t changed in decades. When change is made, it’s usually for an even more unsustainable model.
This project documents the region as the transforming environment shows its impact. It’s a work in progress, with no end in sight.
This project has been partly funded with an Investigation Grant for Environmental Journalism 2022, from Journalismfund.eu.