1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
1. Create and manage a flagship project to reforest the region with native species;
2. Help manage urban forests with the goal of making a difference in the territory;
3. Create training and action opportunities for citizens with the goal of having a positive impact on people’s awareness and practical knowledge about trees and woodlands;
4. Structure a volunteer program for reforestation and management tasks with a goal of contributing to social change and promoting public participation.
5. Also, urban forests filter air, water and sunlight, moderate harsh local climates, cooling the air and slowing wind and
stormwater runoff, reduce the urban heat island effect and air pollution, act as carbon sink against climate change, provide recreational opportunities, improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity and create other countless health, social and economic benefits (2)
2. Help manage urban forests with the goal of making a difference in the territory;
3. Create training and action opportunities for citizens with the goal of having a positive impact on people’s awareness and practical knowledge about trees and woodlands;
4. Structure a volunteer program for reforestation and management tasks with a goal of contributing to social change and promoting public participation.
5. Also, urban forests filter air, water and sunlight, moderate harsh local climates, cooling the air and slowing wind and
stormwater runoff, reduce the urban heat island effect and air pollution, act as carbon sink against climate change, provide recreational opportunities, improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity and create other countless health, social and economic benefits (2)
Quantitative targets
1. The creation of 100 hectares of native woodlands in the region (100.000 trees) until 2015, mainly in areas that were previously subject to human pressures such as fire or invasive species (2)
2. Plant native trees, like pendulucate oak and sweet chestnut. About 80% of the trees are supplied through the Common Forest Program.(Floresta Comum) (1)
3. Assuring the trees are well cared for after being planted, with an average survival rate of 70%. (3)
4. It is expected that biodiversity, the soil's biocapacity and water regulation improve and that about 125 tons of carbon dioxide are stored per hectare planted per year (annual average for a 40 year period). (2)
2. Plant native trees, like pendulucate oak and sweet chestnut. About 80% of the trees are supplied through the Common Forest Program.(Floresta Comum) (1)
3. Assuring the trees are well cared for after being planted, with an average survival rate of 70%. (3)
4. It is expected that biodiversity, the soil's biocapacity and water regulation improve and that about 125 tons of carbon dioxide are stored per hectare planted per year (annual average for a 40 year period). (2)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Number of trees planted
2. Size of area that needs reforestation
3. Survival rate considerations (2,3)
2. Size of area that needs reforestation
3. Survival rate considerations (2,3)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
By June 2011, after several meeting rounds, the project was able to bring together the basic resources needed for the startup phase: (1) eight planting areas (public and private; in mountain, urban, and riverside areas) totaling around 40 hectares, (2) human resources for planting and management (these forest management teams resulted from the cooperation between landowners associations, the central government and municipalities), (3) indigenous tree seedlings (from state nurseries, through a partnership with a non-governmental organization), and (4) a growing goodwill movement to help with the planting and management (NGO, schools, companies and organizations with social responsibility departments). The main implementation phase of the 100.000 trees project started in September (training) and October 2011 (planting) (2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
This NBS is a process innovation since for its implementation it was needed not only the support of the population but it meant engaging people in understanding environmental procedures, training them, voicing their opinions and lastly supporting their needs (1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
For Portugal this is a new intervention and it came as a result of fires diminishing the forests of Portugal (1)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The 100.000 trees project is being replicated elsewhere in the country from 2012. The Common Forest Project (a nationwide project promoted by a non-governmental organization and the government office for nature protection and forests) was launched in March 2012 and its guidelines and procedures reflect the lessons learned over the development of this project. (2)
