PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Lisbon, the biggest city in Portugal, faces growing threats linked to climate change because of its geographical location and climate. Annual average rainfall is decreasing, although the city experiences more winter rainfall. This means longer droughts and more seasonal flooding, reducing soil water uptake and soil conservation. Meanwhile average temperatures are increasing by 1.4C per year, with up to 5C higher maximum temperatures. Climate change will therefore have a negative impact on Lisbon citizens’ life quality and health, and on its urban green areas.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE LUNGS’s overall aim was to increase Lisbon’s resilience and resistance to climate change. To achieve this, the project’s main objective was to implement the municipal climate adaptation strategy (EMAAC) by making use of urban green infrastructure as a tool for climate change adaptation. It would also promote and develop related ecosystem services. It was expected to target water use by developing zero-rainwater-waste urban green infrastructure and increasing flood resistance, while maintaining a quality, resilient ecological base. By developing more green spaces, it would also tackle rising temperatures caused by urban heat islands.
RESULTS
The tree cover density along Lisbon Urban Green-Infrastructure has increased. Overall, 113 252 trees and bushes were planted throughout the project.
Moreover, the conversion of rainfed pasture to rainfed biodiverse grassland was enhanced. A great part of the initially planned installation of new rainfed biodiverse grasslands was instead a conversion due to the previous existence of autochthonous gramineae species in the implementation areas. A total of 10.9 ha of grasslands have been installed.
In addition, the project has generated an unforeseen environmental benefit. Thanks to the smart irrigation system implemented by the project, the annual water consumption in the targeted urban groves was reduced from 64 m3/year to 43 m3/year.
Replication activities were implemented in the city of Malaga, Spain. In particular, 2 100 m2 of biodiversity meadows were implemented. In addition, 2 270 trees were planted to enhance biodiversity in 3 mountainous areas around the city but within the municipality’s limits (Mount Calvario, Mount Victoria, San Anton Mountain).
Furthermore, two extra areas have been sown during the project.
As regards the socio-economic impacts of the project, the main positive impacts that have been estimated are the following:
- the project generated at least 46 new temporary job positions (including project managers and roles created via suppliers) and contributed to the maintenance of existing jobs (22 within the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (CML) and 120 among suppliers’ staff),
- 186 participants from Lisbon Municipality, other municipalities in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, local parishes, and educators received targeted training; the training was overall well evaluated, with participants acknowledging the relevance and adequacy of content,
- volunteer tree and shrub planting actions mobilised thousands of citizens (over 5 700 volunteers) and received strong media coverage,
- actions involving sheep grazing functions in public parks (‘non-mechanical’ vegetation control) were highly visible and captured public and media interest,
- improvements were observed in water use efficiency in urban gardens (notably at Parque Hortícola do Vale de Chelas), although baseline data was affected by outlier years.
The project engaged diverse stakeholders, including public authorities, productive sectors, NGOs, citizens (6 210 volunteers in planting, 2 500 residents visiting sheep grazing), and schools. Governance structures such as Stakeholder Board meetings and Advisory Support Board facilitated validation of socio-economic impact estimations.
