Lisbon Book Fair Turns Pages into Trees: 7,000 New Saplings to Flourish

This year's Lisbon Book Fair, running until June 22 at Parque Eduardo VII, is making a green impact. Through the initiative "Let's Plant Books," The Navigator Company, in collaboration with the Portuguese Association of Writers (APEL), aims to convert the estimated 700,000 books sold during the event into 7,000 new trees. For every 100 books purchased, a tree will be planted, intertwining the love for literature with environmental stewardship.

"Let's Plant Books" symbolizes the natural interdependence between forests and books. The paper used in book production comes from responsibly managed forests, highlighting how each tree can lead to renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable products.

The trees for this initiative will be grown at Navigator's biodiversity center in Espirra, one of Europe's largest and most modern nurseries for certified forest plants, capable of producing over 12 million plants annually from more than 130 species. Planting will occur in autumn and winter, the optimal seasons for growth, featuring a diverse selection including eucalyptus and native species like oaks, cork oaks, and strawberry trees.

The Navigator Company emphasizes that sustainably sourced paper has been a key driver in expanding forest areas and managing natural resources responsibly. In Portugal, forest areas have grown by approximately 65% between 1902 and 2015, with similar trends observed across Europe.

Additionally, the Navigator will present the "Give a Hand to the Forest" project at the fair, an environmental education initiative aimed at younger audiences to raise awareness about the importance of forests and natural resources through fun, educational activities.