Village Condominium: Tâmega e Sousa

The main objective of this Village Condominium is the creation of 14 village condominiums, working mainly on landscape conversion so as to reduce the risk of rural fires and promote biodiversity and the resilience of these areas.

Since rural fire hazard in the areas surrounding the built-up parts of practically every village was found to be "High" or "Very High", intervention in the identified locations is pressing. The project therefore had five objectives: the complete removal of forest biomass; the retention of higher levels of CO2 through the use of native broadleaf species; the revitalisation of farming and silvopastoral activities, with environmental, social and economic impact in the region; adding landscape value to the villages; and greater safety and comfort for the population, since abandoned and poorly managed areas will give way to more sustainable land management and planning.

The actions carried out by Ruris were:

• Preparation of the application:
  • Verification that the application met the eligibility conditions set out in the call, in order to establish its merit;
  • Preparation of the descriptive report;
  • Preparation of the individual condominium project;
  • Preparation of the physical and financial schedule;
  • Preparation of the sustainability plan demonstrating the project's continuity;
  • Preparation of the communication and results dissemination plan;
  • Definition of the potential short- and medium-term impacts in economic, social, cultural and environmental terms, as well as for spatial planning and protection against rural fires;
  • Support in preparing the documentation and other mandatory elements of the application; completion of the application form;
  • Support in preparing any additional clarifications that may be requested during the appraisal and decision on applications;
  • Preparation and delivery of the application dossier in digital format.
• Preparation and submission of payment claims:
  • Analysis and organisation of documentation;
  • Analysis of expenditure documents;
  • Verification of the public procurement procedures underlying the expenditure incurred (where applicable);
  • Completion of the files required for the payment claim;
  • Completion and submission of the payment claim on the platform;
  • Follow-up on the status of the appraisal of payment claims;
  • Support in drafting responses to requests for clarification;
  • Digital organisation of the payment claim documentation.
  • Preparation, drafting and submission of the project's final report.
• Preparation of requests for time/physical/financial reprogramming:
  • Support in gathering information from the beneficiary organisation (reprogramming objectives, budgets, other supporting documents, etc.);
  • Preparation of the necessary justification and supporting documentation;
  • Completion and submission on the platform;
  • Follow-up on the status of the reprogramming request;
  • Support in drafting responses to requests for clarification.