UC takes part in European project to restore habitats and protect wild pollinators
Over the next three years, researchers will develop ecological restoration plans tailored specifically to agricultural and peri-urban areas in southwestern Europe.
The Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) is taking part in the new European project BeeConnected SUDOE – Restoration of Green Infrastructure for Pollinators in Fragmented Landscapes, aimed at the conservation of wild pollinators in Portugal, Spain, and France.
Running for three years, the project will develop ecological restoration plans for agricultural and peri-urban environments within the SUDOE area (southwestern Europe), to combat habitat fragmentation and enhance connectivity between natural and semi-natural areas. The goal is to support more diverse and resilient wild pollinator communities.
In Portugal, the project involves researchers João Loureiro and Sílvia Castro from the FCTUC Department of Life Sciences and the UC Centre for Functional Ecology, in collaboration with the Coimbra City Council (CMC).
According to Sílvia Castro, BeeConnected SUDOE will contribute to biodiversity conservation by creating and restoring green infrastructure in urban, agricultural, and peri-urban settings, in line with the European Green Deal. Restoration activities will be carried out in four pilot areas, one in each participating country, tailored to local needs.
Planned measures include restoring degraded habitats, sowing pollen- and nectar-rich native plants, adjusting vegetation management practices to improve the availability of floral resources, and creating nesting and shelter sites for pollinating insects.
In Coimbra, the case study will focus on urban and peri-urban areas. “We will create small strategic green spaces that act as stepping stones in the landscape, linking isolated habitats and strengthening their biodiversity and resilience. These actions will build on existing local initiatives,” explains António Martins, Director of the Department for Environment and Sustainability at CMC.
In addition to on-the-ground actions, the project will produce guides on best practices for creating pollinator-friendly habitats in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as awareness-raising initiatives with local stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness, acceptance, and long-term impact of the measures.
Funded by the European Union through the Interreg SUDOE programme, BeeConnected is coordinated by the Autonomous University of Madrid and involves the University of Bordeaux (France), the University of Coimbra, the CREAF Consortium (Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications), and SEO/BirdLife. Fieldwork activities will be carried out by the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Coimbra City Council, and the Provincial Council of Girona.