Quercus

Description

Quercus, National Association for Nature Conservation, is a Portuguese environmental organization founded in 1985. It takes its name from the oak tree, a native species that has become increasingly rare in the country. It is a non-profit, politically independent organization headquartered in the Monsanto Forest Park in Lisbon.

Quercus works mainly in Portugal, raising public awareness of environmental problems and promoting more environmentally friendly alternatives. It also takes formal action, filing complaints in Portuguese and European courts over actions it considers harmful to the environment. Its priorities include opposing genetically modified food and nuclear energy, reducing and properly processing waste, and protecting water quality and supply.

The organization is organized democratically, with leaders elected at national and local level, and it operates through around twenty regional branches, called núcleos, across almost every region of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira. It also runs specific projects, including centers that care for injured wild animals and initiatives on sustainable housing and forests. Anyone who shares its environmental goals can apply to become a member.