PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
There is a need for climate change adaptation in the Park Serras do Porto (Portugal); more specifically, the implementation of a set of measures set out in the Local Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change of the three municipalities (Gondomar, Valongo and Paredes) embraced in the Park Management Plan. The risks foreseen in the Strategy’s climatic scenarios can be best overcome through diversified forests (at landscape level, within and among parcels), as opposed to the existing monoculture stands of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) for paper pulp that cover over 69% of forest land. In this context, the major climate risks are increased temperatures and heatwaves; increased storms, including tornados with strong winds; and increased extreme precipitation events leading to floods. To deal with these risks, land use adaptation and the involvement of the forestry sector is crucial. In addition, low forest diversity is particularly prone to wildfires that can be devastating when drought conditions combine with strong winds and storms, as was the case in 2017 throughout Central Portugal. Following successful pilot work undertaken by AMPSP on forest diversification, the aim now is to increase the resilience of forest land through changes in forestry and sylvicultural practices.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE SERRAS DO PORTO project is to make the Park Serras do Porto more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The aim is to diversify forest land, through forest composition, tree species diversity, structure and management, including the use of native species that were once common. Furthermore, to complement and leverage its work, the project team will conduct other ecosystem-based restoration and diversification measures, together with nature-based solutions directed at water retention, soil improvement and erosion control.
The project will:
- Decrease the presence of invasive alien species, and the amount of land with no active management.
- Increase forest diversity, thereby enhancing the adaptation of forest to climate change.
- Promote a more sustainable agriculture.
- Engage civil society in project actions.
- Act as a catalyst for analogous land management solutions.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Adaptation of forest land on 423 ha, including (re)naturalisation of monocultural Eucalyptus plantings on about 195 ha.
- Adaptation of forest parcels within riparian areas, embracing about 40 ha.
- Active control of invasive alien species (mainly Acacia sp. and Hakea sericea), including 67 ha of initial controls.
- Adaptation of agricultural land on 12 ha.
- Improved conditions for at least 3 protected species suffering from habitat degradation, as a result of ecosystem and nature-based river restoration work.
- Increased awareness of local population to the project’s objective.
- Reduction in the number of people vulnerable to climate change (284 576 inhabitants in/around the Park).
