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 municipality has sowed more than 10 ha of meadowland, increasing biodiversity in a so-called rain-fed ecosystem. And their trusted maintenance team were busy keeping the grass levels down.  

Tree planting and rain-fed ecosystem projects are being implemented in several green areas in the city, with the results shared with municipalities around Lisbon and other municipalities in Portugal and Malaga, Spain. Local urban farmers are also being encouraged to adopt irrigation water efficiency methods. 

LIFE LUNGS is featured as part of the Cities Refresh campaign inspiring municipalities to cool down their urban spaces and maintain green spaces to cope with heat waves, combat heat islands and protect community health.  

LIFE LUNGS also supports the objectives of the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.