Urban public policies: towards the improvement of landscape ecological system. The case-study of the city of Évora, Portugal.

The Charter of European Planning 2013 presents a Vision for the future of European cities and regions, highlighting the sustainability of cities and the preservation of urban ecosystems, integrating the man-made environment with the natural ecosystems and contribute to the well-being and quality of life of their inhabitants and other stakeholders. Thus, urban public policies are crucial to the improvement of the landscape ecological system, achievable by city planning and design. The paper aims to analyse if public urban policies in Portugal have been integrating strategies and/or guidelines to enhance the ecological system of the landscape. Then, which new perspectives are possible, framed by the recently approved law Bases of Public Policy of Soils, Land Management and Urban Planning (2014). This new law, in contrast with the previous ones, don’t allow reserving land to urbanize, in municipal master plans. Moreover, it is possible to revert land classified for urban purposes in those plans into rustic soils (when it is not yet infra-structured or built). It allows creating new planning and design dynamics, convert several areas and including them in the urban ecological structure, essential to the enhancement of landscape ecological system. This is a filed of work where landscape architecture has huge responsibilities, by associating and harmonize man-made environment with natural systems, enlightening sustainability consistent with conservation and improvement of Nature while contributing to the well-being and quality of life of Man. A sustainability that is ethical, aesthetic, ecological and cultural. The study is supported by a case study – the city of Évora. The ultimate goal is to propose measures to promote larger and better integration of ecological component in urban public policies, framed by the new territorial management law, taking into account and highlighting the specificities of the landscape system – Man and Nature – at the local level.

Análise das metodologias de caracterização e delimitação da estrutura ecológica nos planos municipais de ordenamento do território do Alentejo

O estágio realizado teve como objetivo analisar as metodologias de caracterização utilizadas aquando da delimitação da estrutura ecológica municipal de cada concelho alentejano. Propõe-se que este trabalho reflita e sistematize as diferentes perspetivas levadas a cabo na execução dos planos de ordenamento do território (à escala municipal). Pretende-se sobretudo verificar se esta delimitação vai, ou não, ao encontro da perspetiva da Arquitetura Paisagista e de que forma deve esta ser transposta para os processos de planeamento e se cumpre as orientações de carácter geral constantes do PROTA. Hoje em dia, a preservação ambiental já vem sendo considerada uma questão de ordem social, pelo que devemos dirigir--nos para a adoção de um novo padrão de atuação que apreenda o elevado grau de degradação ambiental atual. Este padrão implica o reconhecimento das componentes ambiental, ecológica e paisagística nos processos de planeamento e gestão, fazendo com que a componente ecológica e ambiental seja tida em consideração a par dos elementos construídos e dos económicos e sociais; ABSTRACT: Analysis of Characterization and Delimitation Methodologies of the Ecological Structure in the Municipal Plans for the Alentejo Regional Planning The objective of this internship was to analyze the characterization methodologies during the delimitation of the municipal ecological structure of each county in the Alentejo region. It is proposed that this work reflects and systematizes different perspectives undertaken in the implementation of territory development plans territory (at the municipal level). It is primarily intended to determine if that definition will, or not, meet the perspective of Landscape Architecture and how this should be implemented in the planning processes, and also if that definition follows the general guidelines fixed by the Regional Plan for Spatial Planning of Alentejo. Nowadays, environmental protection has already been considered a matter of social order, thus we must guide ourselves to the adoption of a new standard of performance to seize the high level of current environmental degradation. This pattern implies the recognition of the environmental, ecological and landscape components in planning and management processes, causing ecological and environmental aspects to be taken into consideration alongside the built, economic and social elements.

Arquitetura paisagista na Câmara Municipal de Alvito

O presente relatório de estágio ambiciona dar a conhecer todos os trabalhos realizados ao longo do estágio no Gabinete Técnico da Unidade Municipal de Obras e Serviços Urbanos (UMOSU) na Câmara Municipal de Alvito. No decorrer do estágio desenvolveram-se vários trabalhos a nível da Arquitetura Paisagista sendo estes solicitados pela Câmara Municipal. Tendo como base todos os conhecimentos académicos adquiridos ao longo da licenciatura e mestrado em Arquitetura Paisagista ambos doutrinados na Universidade de Évora. Em suma o presente relatório incide sobre o estudo, caracterização e avaliação da paisagem do concelho de Alvito, bem como a análise e proposta de intervenção sobre diversos espaços abertos das freguesias de Alvito. Pretende ainda dar a conhecer à Câmara Municipal as funções de um Arquiteto Paisagista; ABSTRACT: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF ALVITO The Present internship Report aims to raise awareness of all the Work Accomplished Along Stage not Technical Office of the Municipal Unit of Works and Urban Services ( UMOSU ) in the Municipal council of Alvito. During intership developed various works at the level of Landscape Architecture being these requested for the City Council. Having bases in how knowledge all academic bought along the undergraduate and master's degree in Landscape Architecture, both indoctrinated in University of Évora. In short the present report covers the study characterization and evaluation of the county of Alvito landscape , as well as the analysis and proposal of on intervention Several Open Spaces of the parishes of Alvito . Also responsible to inform the City Council the functions of a Landscape Architect.

Influência dos obstáculos de pequena dimensão na estruturação dos agrupamentos piscícolas: The impact of small physical obstacles on the structure of freshwater fish assemblages

O efeito das grandes barragens na comunidade piscícola vem sendo documentado por numerosos estudos, enquanto o número de trabalhos que incidem sobre o efeito dos obstáculos de pequena dimensão é bastante mais reduzido. A comunidade piscícola foi amostrada e as variáveis ambientais foram caracterizadas em 28 locais divididos por dois cursos de água da Península Ibérica, 14 dos quais localizados imediatamente a montante, jusante e entre cinco pequenos obstáculos na Ribeira de Muge e 14 na Ribeira de Erra, considerada a linha de água de referência. Através de análise estatística multivariada foi possível verificar que variáveis de habitat como a velocidade de corrente e a profundidade, e não as variáveis físico-químicas, foram as principais responsáveis pela discriminação dos vários grupos de locais nas duas ribeiras. A ribeira de referência exibiu um gradiente longitudinal de velocidade de corrente que, contudo, não era suficientemente forte para causar alterações significativas na composição e estrutura dos agrupamentos piscícolas. Através da sucessiva e drástica repetição deste gradiente junto a cada estrutura, a ribeira com obstáculos apresentou diferenças na fauna piscícola entre os três tipos de locais. Os troços lênticos a montante apresentavam uma densidade mais elevada de espécies limnofilicas, omnívoras e exóticas, como o góbio (Gobio lozanoi), que estão bem adaptadas a este tipo de habitat. Os locais de amostragem situados a jusante e entre os obstáculos caracterizavam-se pela dominância de taxa reófilos e invetivo-os (i.e. barbo, Luciobarbus bocagei). As métricas relacionadas com a riqueza específica não apresentaram diferenças entre os três tipos de locais, ao contrário da diversidade que foi mais elevada nos pontos situados entre os obstáculos, afastados da sua influência directa, onde a diversidade de habitats também é mais elevada. Contrariamente aos locais a montante, os troços a jusante e entre os obstáculos apresentaram similaridades, em muitas das características estudadas, com a ribeira de referência, sugerindo que este tipo de estruturas provoca uma alteração mais significativa na comunidade piscícola a montante. Este estudo sugere que os efeitos dos pequenos obstáculos no habitat e na ictiofauna são, em parte, semelhantes aos descritos para as grandes barragens, fornecendo considerações importantes para os esforços de conservação dos ecossistemas ribeirinhos. ABSTRACT; Many studies have assessed the effects of large dams on fishes but few have examined the effects of small obstacles. Fishes were sampled and environmental variables were characterized at 28 sites in two lberian streams, 14 located immediately downstream, upstream and between five small obstacles at River Muge and 14 at River Erra, considered as the reference stream. Multivariate analysis indicated that habitat variables like current velocity and depth, but not physicochemistry, were the main responsible for site groups' discrimination in both streams. The reference stream exhibited a longitudinal gradient of current velocity that, however, wasn't strong enough to cause significant changes in the fish assemblage's composition and structure. By successive and drastically repeating this gradient near each structure, the obstac1es stream presented differences in fish fauna between the three site types. Lentic upstream sites presented higher density of limnophilic, omnivorous and exotic species, like gudgeon Gobio lozanoi, who are well adapted to this type of habitat. Downstream and between obstacles sites were characterized by the dominance of rheophilic and invertivorous taxa, especially barbel Luciobarbus bocagei. Richness metrics did not differ among site types, but diversity was higher in sites located between the obstacles away from its direct influence, where the habitat diversity was higher. Contrarily to upstream sites, downstream and between obstacles sites were similar in many of the studied features to the reference stream, implying that this type of structures cause a higher modification in the upstream fish community. This study suggests that the effects of small obstacles on habitat and fishes are similar, in some extent, to those reported for larger dams, providing important considerations for riverine ecosystem conservation efforts.

Hierarchical spatial segregation of two Mediterranean vole species: the role of patch‑network structure and matrix composition

According to ecological theory, the coexistence of competitors in patchy environments may be facilitated by hierarchical spatial segregation along axes of environmental variation, but empirical evidence is limited. Cabrera and water voles show a metapopulation-like structure in Mediterranean farmland, where they are known to segregate along space, habitat, and time axes within habitat patches. Here, we assess whether segregation also occurs among and within landscapes, and how this is influenced by patch-network and matrix composition. We surveyed 75 landscapes, each covering 78 ha, where we mapped all habitat patches potentially suitable for Cabrera and water voles, and the area effectively occupied by each species (extent of occupancy). The relatively large water vole tended to be the sole occupant of landscapes with high habitat amount but relatively low patch density (i.e., with a few large patches), and with a predominantly agricultural matrix, whereas landscapes with high patch density (i.e.,many small patches) and low agricultural cover, tended to be occupied exclusively by the small Cabrera vole. The two species tended to co-occur in landscapes with intermediate patch-network and matrix characteristics, though their extents of occurrence were negatively correlated after controlling for environmental effects. In combination with our previous studies on the Cabrera-water vole system, these findings illustrated empirically the occurrence of hierarchical spatial segregation, ranging from withinpatches to among-landscapes. Overall, our study suggests that recognizing the hierarchical nature of spatial segregation patterns and their major environmental drivers should enhance our understanding of species coexistence in patchy environments.