1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Lisboa (FUA)
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Parque Urbano do Vale da Ameixoeira
Short description of the intervention
The Vale da Ameixoeira Urban Park is a key part of Lisbon's Peripheral Green Corridor, covering 20 hectares and aiming to enhance the city's ecological and social resilience. It includes pedestrian and cycling paths, rest areas, picnic spots, skate parks, and playgrounds, enabling recreational activities while providing scenic views (Ref 1). The park has undergone several requalification initiatives, including the tree planting project in 2018, which saw the community and municipal bodies plant over 130 native trees and shrubs, promoting biodiversity and environmental sustainability (Ref 3). Additionally, the park supports community-based vegetable gardens, integrating horticultural practices to promote local engagement and foster social inclusion (Ref 3). More recently, as part of the Life Lungs project, another 600 drought-resistant trees were planted to mitigate climate change impacts, such as urban heating and water scarcity (Ref 5). The Lisbon Participatory Budget funds the project and reflects the community’s demand for sustainable urban development (Ref 2).
Website of the intervention
https://informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt/contactos/diretorio-da-cidade/parque-urb…
Principal problems
Climate-Related Hazards
Drought
Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
Environmental Degradation
Deforestation and forest degradation
Land use and Socio-economic change
Rapid urbanization
Implementation area characterization
Climate
Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter)
Ecosystem
Temperate forests
Address

2620-042 Olival Basto
Portugal

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary (map-based)
Total area
20000.00m²
NBS area
20000.00m²
Area description
Other urban area outside city center (e.g. another municipality in the FUA, commuting zone)
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2011
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2015
End date of the intervention
2018
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
1. Requalification of Green Space: Transform the Ameixoeira Valley into a green space for the parish, enhancing its urban and social functions while promoting landscape value (Ref 3).
2. Biodiversity Enhancement: Restore and preserve biodiversity by planting native species such as olive trees, oaks, and strawberry trees, among others (Ref 1).
3. Community Involvement: To promote social participation and engage local residents, schools, and organisations in voluntary tree-planting initiatives and the development of vegetable gardens (Ref 3).
4. Creation of Recreational Facilities: Establish facilities such as picnic areas, playgrounds, skate parks, and cycle paths to provide diverse recreational opportunities for the community (Ref 1).
5. Support for Horticulture: Implement a horticultural area and community vegetable gardens to encourage sustainable agriculture and strengthen local community ties (Ref 2, Ref 3).
6. Climate Action: Plant drought-resistant species, such as hawthorn and almond trees, to promote resilience to urban heating and water scarcity (Ref 5).
Key Priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Social Justice and community
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental and climate justice
Sense of community and community engagement
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Increase the use of or more efficient agroforestry practices (e.g. soil moisture, reduce evaporation) or drought-resistant species for agriculture
Improved agricultural practices for improved food security and prevention of food scarcity
Other
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Restore valued species
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
1. Tree Planting Initiatives: Native trees and shrubs, such as elms, oaks, and strawberry trees, were planted to restore biodiversity and mitigate the loss of native vegetation (Ref 3).
2. Development of Community Vegetable Gardens: The park includes an area designated for vegetable gardens where local residents can engage in sustainable agriculture (Ref 3).
3. Creation of Recreational Facilities: The park was equipped with picnic areas, playgrounds, a skate park, and pedestrian/cycling paths (Ref 1).
4. Horticultural Area Establishment: A dedicated horticultural area was established to encourage local food production and sustainable practices (Ref 2).
These activities address issues of biodiversity loss, community disconnection, and lack of accessible green spaces by requalifying the park as a multifunctional and sustainable urban environment.
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks)
Urban reforestation, restoration of street trees
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Please specify "other Climate change adaptation activity"
Planting drought-resistant trees to adapt to potential water scarcity and drought
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Viewing and outlook points
Design elements for well-being
Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Air quality regulation
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
Demographic: Given the park's urban location, it's likely surrounded by a mix of residential and commercial areas. The demographics might be diverse, reflecting Lisbon's multicultural population. The area could be home to a mix of families, young professionals, and students.
Socio-economic profile of the area
Mixed income
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Unknown
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Specify primary beneficiaries
Local residents gain access to green spaces, recreational facilities, and community gardens (Ref 4).
Marginalized groups
Unknown
Other beneficiaries
Native plant vegetation
Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project is primarily led by GEBALIS, a government association, and the Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa). GEBALIS played a significant role in community-based initiatives, such as organizing the tree-planting event and promoting the involvement of local schools, residents' associations, and other community organizations (Ref 3). The Participatory Budget of Lisbon also contributed to the project’s development, showing citizen engagement in decision-making (Ref 2, Ref 5).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
District/neighbourhood association
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Citizens or community group
Stages of citizen and community engagement
On-the-ground implementation
Level of citizen and community engagement
Moderate
Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives
Unknwon
Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")
Unknown
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers & Barriers
Type of enablers
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.
The project was funded through Lisbon’s Participatory Budget, a policy that allows citizens to propose and vote on urban development projects. This financing mechanism directly enabled the park's development, reflecting community engagement (Ref 2, Ref 5).
Governace and decison-making instruments
Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans)
Public - community agreement (e.g. citizen science programs; citizen assemblies)
Arrangements for governance cooperation
Financial mechanisms for resource pooling or sharing (e.g. cooperative financing)
Barriers
Pavement Deterioration: One of the significant barriers identified was the deterioration of the park's pavement. The Lisbon Municipal Assembly highlighted this issue in 2024, raising concerns about the park's safety and usability. The poor condition of the pavement has been uncomfortable and potentially hazardous for users, prompting calls for repairs (Ref 4).
Ongoing Maintenance: The need for continuous monitoring and care, especially related to the planted trees and overall infrastructure, presents an ongoing challenge. Ensuring that the biodiversity goals are sustained over time requires active engagement and resources (Ref 3, Ref 5).
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Please specify total cost (EUR)
1000000 EUR
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Co-finance for NBS
No
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Unknown
Business models
Business models
Green densification model
Local stewardship model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Citizens / local communities
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Expected lowered local temperature
Water management and blue areas
Reduced risk of damages by drought
Expected reduced risk of damages by drought
Green space and habitat
Reduced biodiversity loss
Achieved reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Achieved increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
-Lowered local temperature, Reduced risk of damages by drought: "The plantation is part of the Life Lungs project, led by Lisbon City Council. The aim is to "promote the city's resilience to rising temperatures and water shortages"." (Ref 6)
-Increased number of species present & Reduced biodiversity loss: "The existing tree vegetation is mainly made up of native species, such as olive trees, oaks, strawberry trees, pines, willows, ash trees, among others, mostly planted as part of a voluntary initiative with local residents." (Ref 1)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "Facilities: large informal outdoor recreation areas, picnic area, skate park, children's playgrounds and climbing block (bouldering)." (Ref 1). "requalification of the Ameixoeira Valley as a park/green space for the parish, with a children's playground and an area with vegetable gardens for the local population"
-Improvement in people’s connection to nature: "This park has several facilities - a picnic area, playgrounds, skate parks and a climbing area - and pedestrian and cycle paths, which allow for a variety of outdoor activities, providing a peaceful and diverse environment and an opportunity to connect with nature." (Ref 5)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts
Local government/municipality
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Type of indicators
Outcome indicators
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Cost-benefit analysis
Unknown
Transparency
Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.)
Justice
Community satisfaction
Unknown
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
Unknown
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Unknown
Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices
No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
Unknown
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
Yes
Goal setting and impacts delivery
Yes, from the planning phase the project aimed to address issues in these three key priority areas and it also delivered benefits across these three areas.
Reaching original project goals
Some of the project goals were achieved
Long-term perspective
Yes
Cost-effective solutions
Unknown
Equitable impacts
C. Unknown
Transformative capacity
Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution)
Magnitude of change
Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically
Application of lessons learned
Unknown
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
Lisbon Municipality (n.d.). Ameixoeira Valley Urban Park. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Lisbon Municipality (n.d.). Ameixoeira Valley Urban Park 1st Phase. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Lisbon Municipality (2023). requalification of the Ameixoeira Valley park and vegetable gardens. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Gebalis (2018). O Meo Bairro. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Os Verdes (2024). Pavement of the Ameixoeira Valley Urban Park. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Barbedo, R. (2024). From hawthorns to almond trees. Ameixoeira Urban Park has over 600 trees. TimeOut, Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
The image shows the park.
Parque Urbano do Vale da Ameixoeira
https://informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt/contactos/diretorio-da-cidade/parque-urbano-do-vale-da-ameixoeira
Parque Urbano do Vale da Ameixoeira
Parque Urbano do Vale da Ameixoeira
DR/CML
Indicator
Achieved increased number of species present
Impact evaluation
Moderate
Degree of confidence
Medium