1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Lisboa (FUA) Region Europe Native title of the NBS intervention Bosque Vertical no CCB Short description of the intervention The Bosque Vertical do Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB) in Lisbon (Vertical Forest at CCB), designed by Francisco Caldeira Cabral, is an innovative vertical garden inaugurated in 2020. Spanning two 17-meter-high walls with 7,524 plant pots, it enhances urban biodiversity by attracting birds and insects (Ref 3). This project offers recreational and aesthetic benefits, making the entrance of the cultural centre into a green space (Ref 4). The garden helps reduce air pollution by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen. It uses a drop-by-drop irrigation system made from recycled PVC, ensuring efficient water usage and retention (Ref 1). Furthermore, the garden improves air quality, aims to mitigate urban heat island effects, and conserves water (Ref 2, Ref 5). Website of the intervention https://www.ccb.pt/evento/visita-guiada-visitas-abertas/2021-09-05/ Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Heat stress & Extreme temperatures Environmental Degradation Biodiversity loss Air pollution Implementation area characterization Climate Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Praça do Império 1449-003 Lisbon Portugal Location Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place Area boundary (map-based) Total area 250.00m² NBS area 250.00m² Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Building Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2020 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2020 End date of the intervention 2020 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention - Enhance urban biodiversity: Attract birds and insects to create a natural ecosystem (Ref 3). - Improve air quality: Reduce air pollution and produce oxygen (Ref 1). - Reduce heat island effect through local greenery in built environment (Ref 1). - Water conservation: Utilize a drop-by-drop irrigation system for efficient water use (Ref 1). - Recreational and aesthetic value: Provide a visually appealing and recreational green space for the public (Ref 4). - Environmental awareness: Raise awareness about environmental sustainability and the benefits of green spaces (Ref 5). 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 Environmental quality Air quality improvement Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity restoration Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The main activity is the installation of the vertical garden, which spans two 17-meter-high walls with 7,524 plant pots (Ref 3, Ref 4). This includes the implementation of a drop-by-drop irrigation system made from recycled PVC for efficient water usage and retention (Ref 1). It addresses existing problems as follows: The vertical garden absorbs pollutants, improving air quality (Ref 1). Greenery helps mitigate urban heat, promoting a cooler environment while at the same time attracting birds and insects and promoting biodiversity (Ref 5). Furthermore, the efficient irrigation system conserves water, addresses scarcity issues and provides an aesthetically pleasing recreational space, enhancing urban life (Ref 1, 4). Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of green roofs and walls 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Nature on buildings (external) Green walls or facades Amenities offered by the NBS Unknown Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Local climate regulation (temperature reduction) Air quality regulation Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Aesthetic appreciation Scale Spatial scale Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings) Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The Belém district, where the CCB is located, is a historically significant area in Lisbon, Portugal. Its demographics are characterized by the following: - Tourist-Friendly: Due to its historical landmarks and cultural attractions, including the CCB, Belém is a popular tourist destination. This means that the local population is often supplemented by visitors, especially during peak tourist seasons. - Diverse Age Range: The area attracts people of all ages, from families and young couples to retirees and students. Socioeconomic Mix: Belém has a mix of socioeconomic levels, with both affluent residents and those with middle-level incomes. This is reflected in the diversity of housing options and businesses in the area. - Cultural Heritage: The district's historical significance and cultural attractions contribute to a strong sense of community and pride among residents. Socio-economic profile of the area Middle-income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Non-government actors Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital) Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Specify primary beneficiaries Visitors to the cultural centre (CCB) benefit the most from the project. (Ref 1) Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Co-governance with government and non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative The Bosque Vertical do CCB project is managed and overseen by the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB) in collaboration with the Lisbon City Council. (Ref 6) Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Public sector institution Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Unknown Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) The project didn't involve any form of stakeholder participatory activities Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Public Services Other Please specify other missing actor Museum Land owners Private sector or company 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 Yes Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan" The Bosque Vertical do CCB was implemented in alignment with the Lisbon European Green Capital 2020 initiative, which is a regional strategy aimed at enhancing urban sustainability and addressing environmental challenges. (Ref 1) Relevant strategy or plan City specific green space strategy or plan Urban redevelopment plan Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Support from transitional governance actors Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. The project was part of the Lisbon European Green Capital 2020 initiative, which is a broader policy framework aimed at enhancing urban sustainability and environmental resilience. (Ref 3) Governace and decison-making instruments Legislative and regulatory instruments (e.g. laws, strategies, regulations or restrictions) Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans) Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP)) Arrangements for governance cooperation Formal coordination mechanisms to oversee project implementation and decision-making (e.g., multi-stakeholder steering committees, working groups) Barriers Unknown Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) Unkown What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? Unknown Source(s) of funding EU funds Private Foundation/Trust Type of fund(s) used Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution No Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities No Business models Business models Green densification model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Climate change Lowered local temperature Expected lowered local temperature Environmental quality Improved air quality Expected improved air quality Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Enhanced support of pollination Expected enhanced support of pollination Description of environmental benefits - Lowered local temperature: "The greenery can help cool down the local temperature" (Ref 2) - Increased green space area: "the project by landscape architect Francisco Caldeira Cabral, who is responsible for the CCB's other outdoor and green spaces, consists of 7,524 pots with various plants." (Ref 4) - Increased number of species present and enhanced support of pollination: "The vertical gardens turn into a natural ecosystem attracting birds and insects" (Ref 1) -Improved air quality: "The garden reduces air pollution, produces oxygen" (Ref 1) Environmental impact indicators Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced 7,524 pots with various plants (Ref 4) 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 Education Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Other Description of social and cultural benefits - Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "The garden adds recreational and aesthetic value for people" (Ref 1) - Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: "The challenge, launched to architect Francisco Caldeira Cabral, consisted of transforming the walls of the building and raising awareness for greater environmental awareness." (Ref 5) -Other: Aesthetic Value of the the Vertical Forest: "A breathtaking space was born on the walls of the Belém Cultural Center." (Ref 5) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Unknown Presence of indicators used in reporting No evidence in public records 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 Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Unknown 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. Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Technical change (e.g. built infrastructure of cities and their parts, roads, buildings and so on) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. CCB (n.d.). Jardins Arbertos. Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. CCB (19.06.2020). Bosque Vertical do CCB. [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Valter, L. (23.06.2020). Belém Cultural Center presents a new vertical garden. Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Dias da Silva, R (02.03.2020). CCB gains vertical garden and will inaugurate it with a Spring party. Lisbon: Time Out, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Naves, P (22.06.2020). Lisbon has an incredible new vertical garden. nit, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. CCB (n.d.). Activity Information. Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Bosque Vertical Photographer: Inês Gomes Lourenço, https://www.nit.pt/fora-de-casa/na-cidade/lisboa-tem-um-novo-e-incrivel-jardim-vertical
Image Bosque Vertical Photographer: Inês Gomes Lourenço, https://www.nit.pt/fora-de-casa/na-cidade/lisboa-tem-um-novo-e-incrivel-jardim-vertical
