Várzea Urban Park: An innovative climate adaptation project in the heart of Setúbal City, Portugal

Key Learnings

• Effectively preventing flooding: The Várzea retention basins have proven effective as they have repeatedly prevented flooding in the Setúbal downtown area during heavy rain events across the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
• Spatial planning as a useful tool: Planning and implementing a green space, such as an urban park, enhances the soil's sponge effect and simultaneously reduces the heat in the city.
• Environmental education: Involving schools in different implementation activities, for example, in planting trees for the urban park, contributes to environmental education and early-on awareness-raising on environmental topics.

Summary

The Várzea Urban Park is an innovative project that increases Setubal´s resilience, a highly vulnerable territory to climate change. By implementing retention basins, the project reduces the risk of sudden floods while promoting biodiversity and native vegetation as part of its nature-based solutions. Densifying the vegetation promotes the soil’s sponge effect, enabling greater water absorption, and helps reduce heat in the city centre.

Contact

Name: Cristina Coelho

Organisation: Setúbal´s Municipality

E-mail: cristina [dot] coelhoemun-setubal [dot] pt (cristina[dot]coelhoe[at]mun-setubal[dot]pt)