Breathing LIFE into Lisbon through enhanced urban green infrastructure

Trees and green spaces are crucial for reducing surface temperatures and providing shade. To tackle rising temperatures, one solution is enhancing urban green infrastructure by planting more trees and improving the green soil cover. According to a study in 2023, it is estimated that increasing tree coverage to 30% in cities could prevent almost 40% of deaths related to urban heat islands.   In Lisbon, LIFE LUNGS project teams have been grabbing shovels and digging holes since 2019. Walking around some city neighbourhoods, residents might have noticed an increase in saplings. So far, 107 834 small trees and shrubs, including young almond, arbutus, olive, cypress, holm, oak and cork trees are in their new growing spots, covering over 100 hectares (ha). The municipality has also planted 2 683 larger trees along streets and public areas. These plantation activities are continuing until the project completion this year and as they grow into mature trees, they will capture CO2 from the surroundings as well as rainfall. The saplings will help with flood resilience and against flood erosion.   Over 25 000 of these trees have been planted by more than 5 000 citizens across NGOs, the private sector and schools through activities such as ‘Plant Your Tree’. In Lisbon, there was also an unusual sight in an urban setting.  A flock of sheep roamed meadowlands to keep the vegetation down, as nature’s lawnmowers helping to maintain the green infrastructure. Through LIFE LUNGS, the...