Cobrão's stream ecological restoration. An ecological process to embrace Companhia das Lezirias' greenway network

Abstract

Mestrado em Arquitectura Paisagista - Instituto Superior de Agronomia ; Riparian corridors are unique ecosystems, established normally along the river margins forms dense patches of vegetation adapted to water and soil dynamics. It forms a "continuum" of higher biodiversity then the surroundings, commonly observed in Portugal mainland, with its dry Mediterranean climate. The aim of this study is the ecological restoration of Cobrão's riparian corridor on Lezírias Company, a state-owned agricultural and forestry farmstead, located near Tagus estuary, not far from Lisbon. Lezírias Company property has most of its area covered by cork oak woodlands, integrated on a managed agro-silvo pastoral system. It is under this context that Cobrão's stream riparian corridor is subjected. This stream's longitudinal profile has suffered many anthropological changes throughout the years, mostly for agricultural purposes, affecting the riparian corridor's ecological status. This study will focus, firstly on the regional and local landscape, and climate characterization, as well as the typical Mediterranean riparian ecosystems and finally an overall national and European legislative approach relative to water, land management and conservation. Afterwards, the proposal will aim the ecological renaturalisation and will recommend, on Cobrão's riparian corridor, new accesses and cycling and pedestrian paths. Lastly, this proposal will contemplate an integrated long term management plan