The municipal “More Pollinators, More Biodiversity” Project, which, among various other objectives, seeks the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, has been given the green light by the Environment Agency, with start-up expected by the end of 2021.
The project “More Pollinators, More Biodiversity”, which will receive funding of 200 thousand euros, will be implemented at Quinta Marquês de Pombal, a 130-hectare area in Oeiras hosting a vast range of different habitats, species and areas classified as being of community interest.
A preliminary scientific study on Biodiversity, carried out with Biodiversity4All, revealed that a large number of protected birds can be found at Quinta Marquês de Pombal, as well as a species of fish in critical danger of extinction, and also provides other highly relevant data, such as the existence of an Elm, extremely rare in Portugal, and lichens, which reflect the excellent quality of the air in the Quinta area.
This project involves the creation of a Live Laboratory and an environmental education hotspot focused on pollinators, as the Quinta is marked by playing host to a number of protected species of butterflies, as well as other insects of great scientific interest.
It is these unique characteristics of Quinta Marquês de Pombal that have enabled the creation of this project, which will establish Oeiras as a Pollinator and Biodiversity-Friendly Municipality, with the promotion of habitats for pollinators through flowering meadows across an area of 4 hectares, and the deployment of refuges for pollinators, as well as the collection and systematisation of scientific information regarding Biodiversity in Quinta Marquês de Pombal, which will positively strengthen the domestic and international scientific system and protect the municipality’s biodiversity, in conjunction with many other initiatives promoted by the project.
The partners invited by the Municipality of Oeiras for this project are: Tagis – Centre for the Conservation of Butterflies of Portugal, dedicated to scientific investigation of the natural habitats of butterflies, BioDiversity4All, the mission of which is ‘To bring together the largest number of people in the knowledge of biodiversity’, and a biologist scientist (doctoral student) who has specialised in the study of wild bees.
The “More Pollinators, More Biodiversity” Project aims to publicly disseminate knowledge regarding Biodiversity and associated benefits, with various initiatives prepared, including the creation of the first Biodiversity Station – EBIO and dissemination of the Documentary ‘More Pollinators, More Biodiversity in the Municipality of Oeiras’.
Local citizens and schools will also be called upon to participate in this project, thus encouraging the monitoring and observation of biodiversity, with actions planned involving the planting of native species and the removal of invasive species, workshops on wild bees and building nests, a quick inventory of citizen science using a mobile phone app, as well as the joint realisation of the international event ‘Plant Fascination Day’, among other initiatives.
