Last updated: October 2021
Lisbon's Biodiversity Route is a pedestrian route of 14 km, marked according to the norms of the Portuguese Federation of Camping and Mountaineering. It connects the Forest Park of Monsanto to the Tejo river, which aims to contribute to raising the awareness of the value of the city's biodiversity (ref. 4). The position and dimension of these connected areas important in relation to the climate regulation, air quality and for the diversity of habitats that the city offers. The Biodiversity Route is a circular route, which can be done on foot or by bicycle where each species of fauna and flora that can be observed (Ref.1).
Lisbon Biodiversity Route
Division of the Monsanto Forest Park, retrieved 08/31/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Green corridors and green belts
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
1) Develop self-guided thematic routes for (re) discovery of the environment and heritage (ref.9);
2) Provide a valuable contribution to the dissemination of the natural wealth of Lisbon (ref.4);
3) Create a route that can be accessed either on foot or by bicycle (ref.5);
4) Provide an opportunity to observe the typical vegetation of the Mediterranean and Atlantic ecosystems, represented in the woods and meadows, but also in the orchards, olive fields and orchards, passing through exotic and ornamental species of scientific interest and historical value, found in the Botanical Gardens (ref.5);
5) Connect the Monsanto Forest Park to the Tejo River through the exploitation of biodiversity (ref.6);
6)To enrich the presence of urban routes in Lisbon, approved as an integrated network;(ref.9);
7) Provide adequate and up-to-date information;(ref.9)
8) Ensure the quality of paths, user orientation, conservation of ecosystems and built heritage; (ref.9)
Implementation activities
1) Implementation of informative panels: The diversity of biotopes and heritage wealth of the Route are presented to visitors in 18 selected sites, through informative and interpretive panels with the indication of the fauna and flora that exist in these places. (ref.5)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
- Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- 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 project, under the responsibility of the Environmental Education and Awareness Division (DESA) of the municipality, is part of the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity and was attended by, among others, the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL). (ref.8)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Article 40 of the Regulation of Pedestrian Path Recognition: This route appears inserted in a wider project of creation of an "Urban Pedestrian Network" that need to be certified by the Camping and Mountaineering Federation of Portugal, entity that protects the modality of hiker with competence to regulate and legislate in this matter.(ref.9) .This route is certified. (ref.7))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Reduced noise exposure
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Expected 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
References
(1) ConnectingNature (no date), Lisbon: Nature-based Solutions (NBS) Enhancing Resilience through Urban Regeneration, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(2) Sítio da Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (2010), Rota da Biodiversidade, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(3) Guia do Parque Forestal Monsanto (Website not available in 2020)
(4) Publico (2010), Percurso pedestre inaugurado hoje convida a conhecer a biodiversidade de Lisboa, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(5) Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (2010) Newsletter: ROTAS DA BIODIVERSIDADE. Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(6) Walking Portugal (no date), LSB PR1 - Rota da Biodiversidade. Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(7) KMEPalavras (2012), Rota da Biodiversidade, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(8) Diario de Noticias (2010), Novo percurso pedestre mostra biodiversidade desconhecida. Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(2) Sítio da Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (2010), Rota da Biodiversidade, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(3) Guia do Parque Forestal Monsanto (Website not available in 2020)
(4) Publico (2010), Percurso pedestre inaugurado hoje convida a conhecer a biodiversidade de Lisboa, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(5) Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (2010) Newsletter: ROTAS DA BIODIVERSIDADE. Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(6) Walking Portugal (no date), LSB PR1 - Rota da Biodiversidade. Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(7) KMEPalavras (2012), Rota da Biodiversidade, Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
(8) Diario de Noticias (2010), Novo percurso pedestre mostra biodiversidade desconhecida. Available at Source link (Accessed 21-6-2020)
Lisbon Biodiversity Route
Division of the Monsanto Forest Park, retrieved 08/31/2018