They call it FCULresta. Puns aside, it is a dense, biodiverse and multifunctional mini-forest that is being born in the middle of an urban environmentIt was built on a plot of land next to the Lisbon Science Faculty (FCUL) where there used to be a lawn.
The project's coordinator is a biologist David Avelar and is being developed by FCUL within the scope of the 1Planet4Alla European initiative that is the result of an alliance of 14 non-governmental organizations from all over Europe that aims to promote awareness and critical understanding of young people in relation to climate change.
The intent of FCULresta is to assist in the climate action and promotion of urban biodiversity - mini-forests can have a positive impact, writes The Guardian here -, but at the same time serve as a a living laboratory for students and researchers to analyze the impact of naturalized spaces in an urban context.
The mini-forest will have more than 600 plantshas two "hotels" for insects (one just for ladybugs), one amphibian refuge and yet soil monitoring sensorsas described in Lisboa Capital Verde 2020 page on Instagram. The FCULresta was created using the Japanese method Miyawakiwhose effectiveness in an urban Mediterranean environment FCUL intends to evaluate. "This method suggests that after planting a high-impact, low ecological footprint mini forest, it will be possible to: have fairly rapid growth; high rate of carbon absorption; excellent ability to attract animals and plants - other than those planted; good rainwater processing capacity; improved air quality (reducing polluting particles) and reduced noise pollution; help with local thermal comfort."describes the college in project page.
The FCULresta soil was enriched with 22 tons of compost, the result of organic waste collected under the program Lisbon To Compost and green waste from the city gardens. The creation of this mini-forest, which started in the first week of March, was planned for December but was delayed given the pandemic situation in the country. However, it could not be delayed much longer since the proper time for planting is winter, "in order to avoid very high plant mortality rates".
