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LISBON | European Green Capital 2020
A City of Green Corridors Integrated nature-based solutions are key to Lisbon’s sustainability toolkit, because they are more resilient and provide benefits for all. By focusing on sustainable land use, Lisbon’s network of green corridors act to counteract the effects of climate change, such as drought, extreme heat, and storm flooding. This green infrastructure also supports biodiversity and provides ecosystem services to the city, including air pollution mitigation and space for recreation and urban farming. Lisbon is home to the Monsanto Forest Park: one of Europe’s largest urban forests and the first to receive sustainable forest management certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Covering old quarries, pastures and cereal fields, all of the 1,123 hectares (circa 10 km²) of the 85-year old forest have been planted by hand in a great example of urban ecosystem restoration. Trees and shrubs provide for shade, cool the city in summer and are a habitat for all types of species. At the same time, it is also a large carbon storage system. During 2020, the drainage systems at Lisbon´s main central park - Eduardo VII - will become 100% nature-based
