Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation
An association with long history
Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation
was established on the 31st October 1985.
It is an independent, apolitical, non-profit, national association, formed by
citizens in the pursuit of the conservation of nature and the natural resources
and in the defence of the environment in general, having sustained development
in mind.
The association is called Quercus, as the English Oaks, the Holly Oaks and the
Cork Oaks (whose common Latin name is Quercus) were the dominating trees of the
most evolved forest ecosystems which covered Portugal, but of which only very
degraded relics remain nowadays.
Since its foundation, Quercus has played a part,
both irreverent and constructive, in Portuguese society, in the defence of the
many environmental causes.
This status has been conquered progressively through a conduct attentive to
reality, never losing sight of its founding principles, nor of the need to
complement critical complaints with the construction of consensus in Portuguese
society, without which, no effective model of sustainable development will ever
be possible.
One of Quercus’ assets is its decentralization. In fact, regional offices are
spread throughout the whole country, including the autonomous regions of Azores
and Madeira.
In 1992, the association received de UN Global 500 Award and the title of
Honorary Mamber of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, assigned by the President
of the Republic Mário Soares.
On June 5th, 2007, World Environment Day, Quercus - National
Association for Nature Conservation (Portugal), in partnership with the
University of Coimbra and ELSA - European Law Student Association,
launched a book, edited by Almedina:
"The Earth Condominium - From Climate Change to a New Legal Concept of the Planet", written by Paulo Magalhães.
After the release of the book, we started a period of preparation of the first conference, held on July 4th and 5th 2009, in Gaia, Portugal.
After the release of the book, we started a period of preparation of the first conference, held on July 4th and 5th 2009, in Gaia, Portugal.
The 1st International Forum of the Earth Condominium - Gaia Commitment, brought together national and international experts and eminent persons, as well as several hundred participants, around the organization of the global neighborhood.
Following this conference, on the conceptual framework for reconciling individual interest with collective interest, designed by the condominium model, we began a study to implement a proposal for the creation of a comprehensive legal support for global governance, and an accounting and compensation system (EcoSaldo) for a Green and Human Economy.
