1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Lisboa (FUA)
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Eixo Verde e Azul (EVA) Sintra, Oeiras e Amadora
Short description of the intervention
The Green and Blue Axis (Eixo Verde e Azul, EVA) is an inter-municipal green corridor project connecting the municipalities of Sintra, Oeiras, and Amadora through a 15-kilometre green ecological axis along the Jamor River (Ref 2). It aims to renaturalize the river, improve water quality, and control flooding while promoting sustainable mobility through pedestrian and cycling routes (Ref 5). The project also enhances public access to green spaces and cultural heritage sites, such as the Queluz National Palace (Ref 6). EVA supports the Lisbon Metropolitan Area’s regional strategy for climate change adaptation, risk prevention, and low-carbon economy (Ref 4). Funded by the European Regional Development Fund and municipal budgets, the project has an overall investment of €11 million (Ref 1). EVA exemplifies inter-municipal cooperation, overcoming policy conflicts to achieve shared environmental, social, and economic goals, making it a model for integrated territorial development (Ref 4). The project’s long-term impact includes reduced carbon footprint and increased territorial cohesion.
Website of the intervention
https://sintranoticias.pt/2018/04/24/inicio-da-eixo-verde-e-azul-em-sintra-vao-…
Principal problems
Climate-Related Hazards
River flooding
Environmental Degradation
Poor water quality
Land use and Socio-economic change
Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
Implementation area characterization
Climate
Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter)
Ecosystem
Rivers/streams
Urban or built environment
Address

Rio Jamor
1495-700 Algés
Portugal

Location
The NBS area is spread over a linear space, the GIS coordinates serve as points along a line (e.g. along a river)
Area boundary (map-based)
Total area
1.50m²
NBS area
1.50m²
Area description
Other urban area outside city center (e.g. another municipality in the FUA, commuting zone)
Periurban (both urban and rural environments are present)
Freshwater landscape (e.g. river, lake)
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Freshwater setting (e.g. river, channel, lake, pond)
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2016
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2018
End date of the intervention
2021
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
1. Renaturalize the Jamor River to restore its ecological function (Ref 6).
2. Improve water quality and ensure flow control to reduce flood risks (Ref 6).
3. Create green spaces that provide public access to natural environments and cultural heritage sites (Ref 4).
4. Promote sustainable mobility by developing pedestrian and cycling routes (Ref 4).
5. Reduce the metropolitan carbon footprint and support climate change adaptation (Ref 1).
6. Enhance territorial cohesion across the municipalities of Sintra, Oeiras, and Amadora (Ref 4).
Key Priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Restore rivers and other fresh water bodies to reduce flood or drought risk
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
1. Renaturalization of the Jamor River to restore its ecological functions (Ref 5).
2. Flood control measures to prevent seasonal flooding and protect properties (Ref 6).
3. Creation of pedestrian and cycling networks along a 15-kilometre corridor (Ref 2).
4. Development of green spaces for public access and recreation (Ref 6).
5. Establishment of soft mobility infrastructure to reduce car dependency (Ref 5).
6. Cultural heritage restoration around the Queluz National Palace (Ref 3).
7. Planting of native species to enhance landscape and provide shade (Ref 6).
8. Construction of bridges and access paths to improve connectivity (Ref 6).
The project mitigates flooding and environmental degradation through river restoration and flow control while promoting sustainable mobility and improving public access to green spaces. This enhances urban resilience and addresses climate adaptation goals (Ref 4).
Type of NBS project
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
River rehabilitation/ restoration
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Ecological restoration of existing green spaces
Protection of natural ecosystems
Habitat restoration
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts
Amenities offered by the NBS
Other
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Cycling trails
Design elements for well-being
None of the above
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
Unknown
Socio-economic profile of the area
Unknown
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Unknown
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Specify primary beneficiaries
The primary beneficiaries of the EVA project are the residents of Sintra, Oeiras, and Amadora, particularly marginalized groups with limited mobility options, as well as the municipalities, which benefit from improved quality of life, flood protection, sustainable mobility, and economic opportunities through tourism and cultural heritage restoration (Ref 1; Ref 4).
Marginalized groups
Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups
The EVA project ensures marginalized groups benefit through accessible pedestrian and cycling networks, green spaces designed for universal accessibility, and infrastructure that promotes affordable, sustainable transportation and social cohesion (Ref 4; Ref 6).
Other beneficiaries
Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification)
City infrastructure (e.g., reduced flooding, improved water quality)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The governance of the EVA project involves the municipalities of Sintra, Oeiras, and Amadora, responsible for local implementation. Other actors involved include:
- Parques de Sintra-Monte da Lua (PSML), which supports project coordination and tourism development;
- National entities like the Portuguese Environment Agency and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests oversee environmental regulation and conservation efforts.
- Other sectoral entities: the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of National Defence, the Portuguese Infrastructures, and the Portuguese Waters (Ref 4).
Key actors - initiating organization
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling)
Dissemination of information and education
Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")
Public Services
Ministry of Defence / military and law enforcement authorities
Other
Please specify other missing actor
Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of National Defence, the Portuguese Infrastructures, and the Portuguese Waters (Ref. 4)
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
"The project is part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (A.M.L.) regional strategy, and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and municipal budgets, the project has an overall investment of €11 million (Ref 1).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
The project is supported through the Portugal 2020 programme (Ref. 4).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme/type of the plan
Other
Please specify other national policy instrument
Portugal 2020: A partnership agreement adopted between Portugal and the EC, which brings together the actions of the five European Structural and Investment Funds – European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, European Social Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund – which defines the programming principles that enshrine the economic, social and territorial development policy to be promoted in Portugal between 2014 and 2020.
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
"The project is part of the regional strategy of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) within the scope of the Europe 2020 strategy objectives, namely: (i) adaptation to climate change; (ii) risk prevention and management; (iii) environmental protection; and (iv) transition to a low-carbon economy." (Ref. 4) "Furthermore, given that it applied for funding through the Portugal 2020 programme , the EVA project was also assessed by the CCDR-LVT, within the scope of the Lisbon Regional Operational Programme ( POR Lisboa 2020 ); and by the AML, within the scope of the Integrated Strategy for Territorial Development of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area ( EIDT-AML )." (Ref. 4)
Relevant strategy or plan
Urban redevelopment plan
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Unknown
Enablers & Barriers
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects)
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 showcases intermunicipal cooperation between Sintra, Oeiras, and Amadora, and involves multiple national entities (Ref 4).
The EVA project was included in the ESPON 2020 research on regional strategies for sustainable and inclusive territorial development (Ref 4).
Governace and decison-making instruments
Legislative and regulatory instruments (e.g. laws, strategies, regulations or restrictions)
Joint regional planning between municipalities (e.g. inter-municipal exchange platforms, regional plans for environmental management)
Arrangements for governance cooperation
Unknown
Barriers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Please specify total cost (EUR)
11 Million (Ref. 4)
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
11Million (Ref. 4)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Public national budget
Public regional budget
EU funds
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
No
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Entrepreneurship opportunities
No
Business models
Business models
Risk reduction model
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Expected improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Expected increased protection against flooding
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Achieved increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Achieved increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Description of environmental benefits
-Enhanced carbon sequestration: "the EVA is expected to contribute to strengthening the regional network of green spaces, with a view to reducing the metropolitan carbon footprint." (Ref 4). "In the long term, the EVA is expected to contribute to strengthening the regional network of green spaces, with a view to reducing the metropolitan carbon footprint." Ref. 4
-Improved water quality: The project was expected to "renaturalise and improve the quality of the water bodies of the Jamor River, which ensures control of flows, preventing the effects of climate change" (Ref. 7)
-Increased protection against flooding: "Firstly, the intervention in the Jamor River itself, through the regularization of its bed and banks, aims to prevent seasonal flooding." (Ref 4)
-Increased green space area; Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems: " the project involves the creation of a vast park (Belas-Queluz-Cruz Quebrada) structured by the Jamor River and covering an area of ​​approximately 10 km2 shared by the three contiguous municipalities." (Ref 4). "Secondly, the creation of a vast continuous green corridor contributes to the protection of the environment and the preservation of local fauna and flora." (Ref 4). "The Municipality of Sintra was distinguished with the award of the Portugal Smart Cities Award – António Almeida Henriques, in the “Public Space” category, with the Green and Blue Axis (EVA) receiving recognition as a sustainable and efficient project." (...) "The Green and Blue Axis establishes the creation of an ecological corridor (Belas-Queluz-Cruz Quebrada) structured by the Jamor river and covering an area of ​​approximately 150 hectares, which crosses the municipalities of Sintra, Oeiras and Amadora" (Ref. 8)
-Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales: "The park will enable connectivity across a large territory, interconnecting various territorial assets – natural, heritage and infrastructure – in the three municipalities." (Ref. 4). "The Portugal Smart Cities Award award, recognizes that the Green and Blue Axis project implements an integrated intervention strategy aimed at creating and consolidating an ecological and sustainable axis." (Ref. 8).
Environmental impact indicators
Total area of habitat restored (in ha)
150 (Ref. 8)
Economic impacts
More sustainable tourism
Expected more sustainable tourism
Description of economic benefits
- More sustainable tourism: The project is expected to promote "the development of tourism along the Sintra-Queluz-Jamor axis" (Ref 4)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Expected improved social cohesion
Improved liveability
Achieved improved liveability
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Improved physical health
Expected improved physical health
Improved prevention of respiratory problems
Expected improved prevention of respiratory problems
Description of social and cultural benefits
-Improved physical health & Improved prevention of respiratory problems: "The EVA is expected to have positive impacts on the quality of life and well-being of the region's residents, both from an environmental perspective, through the creation of a new 'green lung' equivalent in area to that of Monsanto," (Ref 4)
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "the completion of a pedestrian and cycle network between the various facilities and points of interest" (Ref 4); "The proposed pedestrian path, approximately 285 m long, runs along the hillside with gradients no greater than 6%, thus ensuring mobility for all. The implementation of accesses seeks the best possible compatibility with the topography in order to minimize land mobilization, preferably adopting pre-existing paths, while respecting all legal requirements governing pedestrian circulation. Access via stairs is also proposed in order to shorten the route." (Ref. 5). "On the other hand, EVA provides access to nature and heritage, through the creation of green spaces and the implementation of a mobility circuit throughout the municipality of Oeiras, and neighboring municipalities. The first phase connected Sra. da Rocha to the Promenade, with a pedestrian route of approximately 2,750 meters." (Ref. 9).
-Improved social cohesion: "will contribute to territorial cohesion, also improving social cohesion." (Ref 4)
-Improved livability: "The creation of the ecological axis enabled connectivity across a large territory, interconnecting various territorial assets in the three municipalities, increasing the supply of green spaces, and thus contributing to improving the quality of life and spaces in cities, representing a qualitative change in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area." (Ref. 8).
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
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
Meetings with stakeholders’ representatives
Online disclosure of technical reports (e.g. project documents, reports, or data)
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
No, although benefits were delivered in all the 3 key areas, but in the planning phase, the project did not aim to address issues in all the 3 key priority areas.
Reaching original project goals
Most 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)
Technical change (e.g. built infrastructure of cities and their parts, roads, buildings and so on)
Magnitude of change
Transformative: (deep) by focusing on and substantially changing structures, including institutional ones (norms and rules).
Application of lessons learned
The NBS has been shared or used as a good practice to trigger transformative change
Other
Please specify other application of lessons learned
"EVA project constitutes a promising case study of best practices, in which an integrated territorial approach that responds to local challenges also has the potential to create value on a regional scale." (Ref. 1)
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
European Committee of the Regions (n.d.). Eixo Verde Azul (EVA) - Green Blue Axis. Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Cardoso, M. (2017). Construction of the green corridor between Oeiras, Sintra and Amadora is underway. Publico, Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Tavares, J. (2018). The start of the Green and Blue Axis in Sintra marks the 25th of April in the municipality. Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Balula, L. (2018). Green and Blue Axis: Intermunicipality in Action in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Shift Blog, Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Mais Transparencia (n.d.). Portugal 2020 Project. Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Oeiras Municipality (n.d.). Green and Blue Axis Project. Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
SmartDest (2021). Eixo Verde e Azul (EVA). [Source link] [Archive];
8.
Sintra Noticias (2023). Eixo Verde e Azul distinguido com Prémio ‘Portugal Smart Cities’. [Source link] [Archive];
9.
New in Oeiras (2021). Eixo Verde e Azul tem uma ligação entre Santuário da Nossa Sra. da Rocha e Carnaxide. [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
Blue Green Axis Map.
Blue Green Axis Map.
https://ambienteterritoriosociedade-ics.org/2018/12/19/eixo-verde-e-azul-intermunicipalidade-em-acao-na-area-metropolitana-de-lisboa/
The image shows the river.
Blue Green Axis
https://ambienteterritoriosociedade-ics.org/2018/12/19/eixo-verde-e-azul-intermunicipalidade-em-acao-na-area-metropolitana-de-lisboa/
Indicator
Achieved increased green space area
Impact evaluation
Moderate
Degree of confidence
Medium
Indicator
Achieved increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Impact evaluation
Strong
Degree of confidence
Medium
Indicator
Achieved improved liveability
Impact evaluation
Moderate
Degree of confidence
Medium
Indicator
Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Impact evaluation
Moderate
Degree of confidence
Medium