SEEDS - Sementes EmpreEndedoras para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável/ SEEDS - EntrEpreneurship Seeds for Sustainable Development

KEEP Association realised that it is crucial to strengthen younger generations through their teachers, improving their knowledge about the consequences of biodiversity loss and the urgent need to be more sustainable. The study areas to test this methodology were two rural municipalities: ● Góis, located in the Centre of Portugal,with 17% of its territory being classified as a protected Natura 2000 area (PTCON0060), a mountain forested landscape. In 2017, suffered the biggest forest fire ever in Portugal and the deadliest in the country’s history; ● Sabugal, located in the Centre of Portugal and bordering Spain is characterized by an agro-silvopastoral landscape, with continuous patches of oak forests mixed with chestnut groves, that is protected under Natura 2000 area (PTCON0004) (60% of the municipality is classified). Sabugal is also one of the study areas under the CULTIVAR Research and Integrated Program that aims to respond to the challenges faced by the Agri-food sector, namely to characterize, preserve and valorise endogenous regional genetic resources. SCEA, with more than 35 years working in environmental education wish exchange experiences and knowledge related with biodiversity, using informal and non-formal education.

Seed banks are essential to counteract this trend due to the great diversity of plants they comprise. In addition to their value in securing the future of plant biodiversity, strategically, their potential role in citizen science and education is also enormous. Seed banks are excellent tools for promoting knowledge about biological diversity and can demonstrate a direct link between the evolutionary processes of plants and their uses over time, such as food production, agriculture or cultural traditions. Given the natural and anthropogenic factors that threaten biodiversity and the conservation of many habitats and species, there is an urgent need to strengthen the younger generation's awareness through their teachers, improve knowledge and to help them recognise the connection between the real consequences of this loss and sustainability. The SEEDS project was performed in 2 rural schools of the Natura2000 areas engaging key actors in a collaborative and co-creation partnership with the following objectives: ●Contribute to mitigate the loss of biodiversity by collecting seeds of endogenous plant and creating 2 seed banks ●Collect and disseminate traditional knowledge ●Provide students with entrepreneurial tools, key skills, STEAM

The KEEP Association created an activity module with an endogenous school seeds bank in both schools. This module resort in a seed bank of endogenous species, with potential use in food and medicine and didactic materials transversal to the 8th grade. SCEA created a booklet about endogenous seeds species of Sabugal and Góis; 2 posters about mutualism for the european chestnut (Castanea sativa) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana); a module of “Vital Networks-Eko interactions” for teachers that proposes didactic-playful and cooperative dynamics, centered on edible plant species and associated fauna. Students from Góis and Sabugal schools created their own seed bank and an exhibition of museological material about their cultural and intangible heritage and traditions about endogenous seeds and plants. Góis school exhibition was translated to Braille. Several workshops for students were developed (how to create a seeds bank, photography, digital communication, learning in nature, food and climate change, edible wild plants and ecossystem services). Publications for social media (AESabugal, AEGóis, SCEA), websites (KEEP, schools, SCEA) and local media (Diário de Coimbra, 5 Quinas) were published. Góis students start to create seed pillows

The SEEDS project aimed to contribute to mitigate the loss of biodiversity and simultaneously support the assessment of ecosystem services (Provisioning and Cultural), through the identification of plant endogenous genetic resources (e.g. traditional agriculture varieties and native species, with potential use in food and medicine) in Góis and Sabugal municipalities. The concrete outputs were: ● creation of a seed bank in each school ● a strong partnership with the Spanish partner ● creation of a non-formal and informal learning module about seeds ● a Museum exhibition about agricultural practices in each region. Several study visits were supported by the municipalities to both schools, in order for the students to get to know the cultural heritage related to agricultural practices (e.g. visits to the olive oil mill, tree nursery, agricultural colony, Serra da Lousã and Serra da Malcata). SEEDS project also won the LifeLong Learning Award 2023, ANAM 2024-1st place ex-aequo. Góis students applyed for several awards, winning 1st place Prémio Jorge Paiva 2023 and 2024 and Honour Mention 2023; 1st place "A Europe we Trust: Visions of European Youth" (1 student 14 years-old category,2023), 1st place LPN Mares Circulares 2024,with seeds