PortuGreen - reforestation

Dates: 18 March 2017

Place: Mata de S. Brás, Santa Cruz do Bispo, Matosinhos, Portugal

What was done: Reforestation of Mata de S. Brás with native species and intervention against a invasive tree of the generus Acacea.

What is the result of activity: Plantation of 144 trees and bushes with the help of 60 volunteers from several organisations.

Why this method: Our plan is to restore a native ecosystem in the area of Mata de S. Brás. The help of the volunteers makes the task quicker.

What follow-up is planned: Controlling the plants to not let them dry, control of the spontaneous species so they do no cover the new plants and continuing the intervention against the invasive species so we can gain more field to plant natives.

Additional information: 100milarvores.pt; invasoras.pt

Local partners:

• União de Freguesias de Perafita-Lavra-Santa Cruz do Bispo - http://www.perafita-lavra- santacruzbispo.pt/
• Câmara Municipal Matosinhos - http://www.cm-matosinhos.pt/Estabelecimento
• Estabelecimento Prisional de Santa Cruz do Bispo - masculine
• Projecto Futuro - http://www.100milarvores.pt/

Phytoremediation water treatment system

Dates: 29 April 2017

Place: Guifões, Matosinhos, Portugal

What was done: Beginning of the construction of ponds that have the purpose to treat the water of a little stream. First pond  - covered with a canvas, filled with gravel and planted with local plants. Second pond - covered with canvas and filled with gravel. Thrid pond - only with gravel.

What is the result of activity: All of the 3 steps completed and the ponds started to fill with water.

Why this method: To try to do this experimental method to treat this stream full of organic matter that comes from the residual water of the houses close by. By implementing this system, that have low cost, we can raise awareness for alternatives to the conventional water treatment systems.

What follow-up is planned: Monitoring the structure built. To see if it hangs on with the rain. To control the growth of the plants.

Local partners:

• União de Freguesias Custóias-Leça do Balio-Guifões - http://www.jf-custoias- lecabalio-guifoes.pt/
• Câmara Municipal Matosinhos - http://www.cm-matosinhos.pt/
• Administração dos portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo - http://www.apdl.pt/header
• Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental - http://www.ciimar.up.pt/

PortuGreen - control of invasive species

Dates: 6 May 2017

Place: Mata de S. Brás, Santa Cruz do Bispo, Matosinhos, Portugal

What was done: Peeling of trees of the generus Acacea, pulling out other invasive species and pulling out spontaneous weeds near the planted trees.

What is the result of activity: Peeling of a big number of trees. With pulling out invasive species we try to gain more space for reforestation and by pulling out spontaneous to prevent the planted trees from being suffocated by them.

Why this method: Best way documented to prevent these particular invasive species of growing.

What follow-up is planned: Keep these action till the end of the project and monitoring the growth of the plants.

PortuGreen - reforestation

Dates: 17 June 2017

Place: Mata de S. Brás, Santa Cruz do Bispo, Matosinhos, Portugal

What was done: Cleaning of the spontaneous weeds surrounding the planted trees boiler and peeling of some trees of the Acacea generus.

What is the result of activity: With the cleaning of the planted trees boiler it is possible to reach them so we can keep up with the monitoring plan.  The peeling of the Acacea keeps rolling the invasive species combat plan.

Why this method: If the surrounds of the trees were not cleaned, they could be suffocated by the others. Besides, it facilitates the monitoring plan as the trees become visible.

What follow-up is planned: Monitoring all the tree and check their "health" condition.

PortuGreen - reforestation

Dates: 12 July 2017

Place: Mata de S. Brás, Santa Cruz do Bispo, Matosinhos, Portugal

What was done: A short introduction to the international project (what it is about) and to the autochthonous Portuguese forest to children between 8 and 12 years old. After that we made a practical activity of removal of the weeds from the surrounding areas of the planted trees and the peeling of the generus Acacia, and invasive tree that exist in the field.

What is the result of activity: To get to the planted trees is now easier and we got more invasive ones peeled, which helps the working group of the project to accomplish this important task of their work.

Why this method: It is the one we have been to applying since the beginning of the project.

What follow-up is planned: The maintenance of the planted trees (watering).

PortuGreen - maintenance

Dates: 21 October 2017

Place: Mata de S. Brás, Santa Cruz do Bispo, Matosinhos, Portugal

What was done: Cleaning the surroundings of the planted trees and protecting them with a plastic tube.

What is the result of activity: The cleaning of the surroundings of the planted trees prevents the trees from suffocation by the spontaneous weeds. The protection tubes prevents the trees trunks to get hurt by the cleaning process or any wild animal.

Why this method: It is the most common used in the reforestation processes and it is easy to do.

What follow-up is planned: To meet with all the local partners and schedule future actions such as cleaning of the invasive species, monitoring the planted trees and planning next plantation actions.

Funder:

OPE - Environmental challenges

Main page of the projectPortuGreen - maintenance