Last updated: March 2025
The Estufa Fria de Lisboa (Cold Greenhouse of Lison), located on the south-facing slope of Park Eduardo VII in Lisbon and part of the city's green corridor (Corredor Verde de Monsanto) aims to integrate leisure, culture, and education opportunities to promote plant biodiversity conservation within a sustainability framework (Ref. 1). Cold Greenhouse refers to the fact that there is no heating system on the premises, and it also refers to one of the three gardens (Ref. 5). The greenhouses were created in an old quarry dedicated to rock extraction, and these lush gardens are now comprised of three distinct greenhouse environments: cold, warm, and sweet (Ref. 1). These greenhouses collectively house over 300 plant species from diverse continents, including rare species (Ref. 2). The garden's design integrates natural water features, with watercourses and waterfalls and statuary elements. Since the opening of its Interpretation Center in 2016, the Estufa Fria has expanded its role as an educational resource, hosting exhibitions and activities related to botany and urban green structures. Since 2016 the project has been focused on its educative agenda with the development of a set of pedagogical resources for preschoolers, students from ages 6 to 12 years old and their teachers, and with guided visits. (Ref 1, 2)
Estufa Fria
https://estufafria.lisboa.pt/explorar/estufa-fria#fancybox-782-2444-1
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Botanical gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems
Project objectives
- act as a space for leisure and culture;
- promote the conservation of biodiversity by ensuring the protection and promotion of diverse plant species;
- act as an educational resource about plants and the protection of biodiversity as well as adopting behaviours;
- enhance knowledge and awareness about plant species and sustainability, by engaging the local community through educational programs and activities. (Ref 1)
Implementation activities
The project includes the following activities:
- development of the educational centre;
- creation of educational programs and plans for offering guided tours and materials to inform visitors about plant species and sustainability;
- creation of botanical exhibitions in the Interpretation Center to engage the public;
- maintenance and expansion of a diverse plant collection, including rare and endangered species;
- integration of cultural and artistic elements within the garden for visitors (e.g. statues);
- promoting biodiversity and raising environmental awareness (Ref. 1, 5)
These efforts address existing problems by promoting biodiversity through the preservation of rare plant species, enhancing public knowledge about environmental conservation through educational outreach, and creating a culturally rich environment in order to foster appreciation for nature. The buildings are also self-regulating the inside temperature therefore avoiding emissions by not needing cooling or heating facilities (Ref 1, 2)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Lisbon municipality is responsible for the governance and financial management of the Estufa Fria de Lisboa. It oversees the maintenance, public engagement, and educational activities, ensuring that the garden operates efficiently and sustainably within the municipal budget and regulatory framework. (Ref 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(It is not specified exactly, though it is mentioned that the conservation and education efforts respond to and are in line with Lisbon's sustainability strategy. (Ref 1) )
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Achieved increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Achieved increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Expected increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
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
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Lisbon Municipality (n.d.). Estufa Fria de Lisboa. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Estufa Fria (n.d.). Quem somos. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (2022). 2.º SUPLEMENTO AO BOLETIM MUNICIPAL N.º 1464. Lisbon: Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Estufa Fria de Lisboa (n.d.). Discover the Plants. Accessed on June 7, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Mihaela Gutu (2024). Estufa Fria – Discover the Cold Greenhouse of Lisbon. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Fidalgo, V. (2020). Cold Greenhouse awaits visitors after reopening. CM, Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
7.
(n.d.). The Greenhouse Gardeners. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.