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Description
The proposal intends to develop the Strategic Plan for the Rehabilitation of Water Lines (PERLA) as a guiding instrument for action in the water lines of the municipality of Mafra, based on a set of planning and territorial management instruments that aim to substantiate and guide the water protection and management, including the National Water Plan (PNA) and the Hydrographic Region Management Plans (PGRH). Promote the development of multiple uses and the minimization of risks, guaranteeing the stabilization of river corridors and the good ecological status of the respective water bodies, by promoting greater heterogeneity of hydraulic conditions and diversity of species and habitats; which, in turn, contribute to the resilience and sustainability of riverside systems and the improvement of the territory''s capacity to respond to climate change. The need to create guidelines for action within the scope of water resources is justified by the vulnerability of the municipality to high temperatures / heat waves, excessive precipitation, strong waves / rising sea levels and strong wind.
Summary of project results
The PERLA Mafra project aimed to tackle the environmental and climatic challenges affecting the water lines of the municipality of Mafra. These challenges included poor water quality, loss of biodiversity, increased risk of flooding, and the lack of a coherent strategy for the rehabilitation and sustainable management of watercourses. The project also sought to address the effects of climate change on these systems, such as intensified rainfall, prolonged droughts, and their impact on local ecosystems and infrastructure.
Additionally, there was a need to increase community awareness and technical capacity for managing and conserving these water resources sustainably, ensuring that the actions taken were both scientifically sound and socially inclusive.
The project was structured around three main activities:
Characterization and Diagnosis:
- Conducted comprehensive fieldwork, including visits to 71 general and 36 ecological sampling points, to assess the current state of the municipality''s watercourses.
- Developed detailed spatial analyses and typologies of water lines, identifying key challenges and opportunities for intervention.
- Produced interim and final reports to document findings and provide a basis for the next stages of the project.
Intervention Program:
- Created an action plan with clear objectives and measures for rehabilitating and conserving the municipality''s water lines.
- Designed intervention programs focusing on maintenance, public participation, technical capacity building, and intermunicipal cooperation.
- Developed strategic projects and prioritized interventions for key water line sections, ensuring compatibility with existing territorial planning instruments.
Experimentation and Learning:
- Selected pilot sections of watercourses for demonstration interventions using natural engineering techniques.
- Established two "LabRios+" demonstration sites, one in an urban setting (Venda do Pinheiro) and another in a rural area (Carvoeira), showcasing innovative approaches to river rehabilitation.
- Produced a "Technical Guidelines Manual for River Rehabilitation" to support future initiatives.
- Conducted public participation sessions, technical training, and environmental awareness campaigns, including six education sessions targeting schools, local authorities, and the general population.
The project delivered significant outcomes, including:
- Environmental Impact: Rehabilitated sections of water lines, improving water quality and restoring ecological functions, benefiting the local biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Community Engagement: Empowered the local community through education sessions, raising awareness about the importance of watercourse conservation.
- Capacity Building: Trained municipal technicians and other stakeholders in advanced methodologies for sustainable water line management.
- Demonstration and Replication: Created two LabRios+ sites that serve as models for similar interventions in other municipalities.
- Long-term Strategic Impact: Established a comprehensive framework for managing and rehabilitating water lines in Mafra, providing a replicable model for other regions.
Beneficiaries included the municipality of Mafra, its residents, surrounding municipalities sharing water basins, and the broader scientific and environmental community.