The Técnico community planted an urban mini forest at Alameda campus. The initiative, promoted by the Sustainability Unit at Técnico, will last 36 months and is being developed in partnership with Urbem, an organisation focused on ecological regeneration of urban spaces.
The mini forest will consist of five layers of vegetation, ranging from tree species that can reach the height of the tallest trees already existing on the site to climbing plants that will form the fifth layer. In total, 500 plants of Portuguese forest species are expected to be planted, following the Miyawaki Method.
The process involved students, staff, professors and volunteers from outside Técnico, who gathered in the space where the mini forest will be planted, for an initial presentation and integration of all participants. Before the practical work began, participants had the opportunity to attend theoretical sessions to prepare for the field work.
Planting was divided into three days. On 20 November, the focus was on preparing the land by creating swales — infiltration trenches essential for water retention —, the control of invasive species, and the opening of paths. On 27 November, the large-scale planting began, which was completed on 4 December.
Diogo Mendes, an environmental biologist at Urbem, highlighted the importance of the planting moment, considering it “the most important part of the whole process”, while challenging the group to get involved in the planting and “try to mimic nature in this orderly chaos”. For António Alexandre, also a biologist at Urbem, this is a “citizen movement that aims to bring the forest back to the city”. The event was also attended by Miguel Amado, Vice-President of Técnico for Sustainability and Infrastructures, and several staff members.
Lídia Silva, a staff member, shared, “I had to come, to connect with nature, plants and with people”. Her colleague Luciana Xavier described the initiative as a positive experience: “This is incredibly therapeutic and beneficial”.
The activity also included the participation of siblings Constança Fernandes, a master’s student in Biological Engineering, and Frederico Fernandes, a master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Constança, the former president of Ambientalist, began her environmental volunteer work after joining Técnico and admits that she was the one who introduced her brother to this type of initiative. Frederico laughed and confirmed, “It was her!” During the planting, both expressed their concern for preserving even the smallest form of life. Although Constança is starting her thesis in February at a company, she intends to continue following the evolution of the mini forest from a distance.
