The aim was to restore the natural ecosystem of this Park to what it was when the Palace was first built by D. João V in 1717.
The Tapada de Mafra covers 800 hectares, being home to 500 animals of 60 different species. A total of 770 volunteers (425 volunteers from companies and 345 EPIS teachers and students) took part in this clean-up for nature protection and fire prevention, achieving the following results:
- 20 hectares of land cleaned;
- 40 tons of ligneous material removed;
- 200 meters of old fencing removed and dismantled;
- 500 kilos of fruit distributed to wild boars and fallow deer;
- One kilometre of ditches cleaned;
In addition to Galp, volunteers from 13 other EPIS partners were present: Ascendum, CTT, Deutsche Bank, EDP, Liberty Seguros, PWC, REN, Repsol, Santander Totta, Sesimbra Council, Sapec Agro, Sovena and the Trivalor Group, as well as students and teachers from EPIS schools in eight counties in Almada, Amadora, Lisbon, Loures, Odivelas, Seixal, Setúbal and Sintra.
"It is very important that the work of EPIS in schools, which focuses on promoting the educational attainment of thousands of students, includes the promotion of Values and an Active and Committed Citizenship. This unprecedented voluntary action, to raise awareness about the environment and natural and built heritage, where company executives and students worked side-by-side for a shared, highly deserving goal, is an excellent example of the practices we can launch so that the Education of our youngsters becomes more integral and humanistic”, said the President of the EPIS Directorate, Dr. António Vitorino.