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I. Silva et al. 2010. Lisbon’s public gardens, host place for world’s trees
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Lisbon’s public gardens, host place for world’s trees
Isabel Silva 1 , Elsa Isidro 1 , Ana Luísa Soares 2* & Francisco Moreira 2
1
Secção Autónoma de Arquitectura Paisagista, Instituto Superior de Agronomia,
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Portugal
2
Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves, Instituto Superior de Agronomia,
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract
This study aims to contribute to the characterization and evaluation of Lisbon’s Gardens. Within
the framework of the 2009 project “Methods of Characterization and Classification of Lisbon’s
Public Gardens with heritage interest”, 31 of Lisbon’s Public Gardens were studied and a new
methodology was developed to measure their landscape, historical, social and cultural value
Garden’s Landscape value was evaluated according to several parameters, one of which was the
botanical quality indicator. It determines trees’ richness and uniqueness, assessed by botanical
diversity and singularity evaluation methods (e.g., surveys, Shannon index, Equitability), and
trees’ heritage interest, based on their rarity, age, size and health.
3751 trees in 31gardens were studied. The following results were obtained: 46 families, 83
genus and 139 species. 48% are exotic, 35% naturalized, 13% indigenous and 4% exotic
invaders.
Lisbon’s Mediterranean climate allows the coexistence of different tree species, from Northern
Europe to subtropical climates. In addition to its aesthetical value, this botanical diversity plays
a central role in increasing biodiversity and promoting urban ecological sustainability.
Keywords: Public Gardens, Heritage Interest, garden’s trees, Botanical Diversity, Lisbon
1. Introduction
Lisbon’s climate allows for the coexistence of various indigenous and exotic tree species, from
Northern Europe to subtropical climes. In addition to its great aesthetical value, this botanical
diversity provides a habitat for the fauna and plays a key role in increasing biodiversity and in
the urban ecology thus contributing to a sustainable city.
This botanical richness is mostly due to the Portuguese Discoveries and contact with other
cultures which meant that plant species from around the world were brought to Portugal, in
particularly to Lisbon. These “new” plants, from all over the world, were a challenge for
botanists, gardeners and horticulturists, for whom the public and private botanical gardens and
gardens were the “stage” for their experiments.
Many of these species were well suited to our climate, and today in Lisbon’s streets, parks and
gardens we can find specimens such as: Tipuana tipu, Phytollaca dioica, Chorisia speciosa and
Jacaranda mimosifolia from South America; palm trees from the Canaries; Casuarina
cunninghamiana, Grevillea robusta and Lagunaria patersonii from Australia, Taxodium
distichum from the USA, Metrosideros excelsa from New Zealand, alongside Portuguese flora.
Some of these trees, which stand out because of their size, structure, age, rarity or for historic
and cultural reasons, have been classified by the National Forestry Authority, and add to
* Corresponding author. Tel.: 00 351 93 232 60 04
Email address: alsoares@isa.utl.pt
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.