CIBIO-INBIO RESEARCHERS SUPPORT MUNICIPAL PLANNING ON OPORTO'S ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND BIODIVERSITY

The auditorium of Junta de Freguesia do Bonfim has crowded for the discussion of Environmental reports about Oporto. Paulo Farinha Marques presented the results of the study on the Ecological Structure and Biodiversity of the city carried out by a CIBIO-InBIO team.

The researcher started with observing that Oporto has a "special location" because in its territory converge river and sea. According to him, this characteristic, together with other factors characteristic of its geography, makes it "a true hotspot of people, culture and biodiversity".

As part of the characterization conducted by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, an exhaustive mapping of existing natural spaces (without human intervention) and existing green spaces (areas where vegetation cover is equal to greater than 50%) was done.

Paulo Farinha Marques emphasized that the “specific fauna and habitat richness, and green areas potential to create urban continuity, are opportunities that new PDM can take advantage of”. According to the report, there is scope to extend these green spaces’ area in Oporto.

This session was part of PDM week, which takes place from May 7 to 11, and is attended by specialists in different areas. The initiative is promoted by Câmara Municipal do Porto and aims to inform the whole city of the work developed in the scope of the current PDM revision.