Cooling Braga with nature-based solutions

Braga is refreshing with nature-based solutions

Green spaces rehabilitation

As part of its local strategy, Braga has been investing in the rehabilitation and creation of green spaces. Parks such as Jardim Brasil and Parque Urbano das Camélias have been redesigned to provide cooler, more accessible public areas. These spaces integrate features like rainwater harvesting systems, irrigation tanks and boreholes, and offer shaded seating areas. The aim is to bring green spaces closer to residential areas and make them welcoming for all residents. Parque das Camélias, for instance, now includes safe walking routes, benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains, and a viewpoint with seating, providing residents with spaces for leisure, social interaction and relief during hot weather.

In parallel, the city has developed long-term programmes to expand its urban forest through community-led efforts thanks to two local programmes:

• Oxigenar Braga is an environmental awareness programme, with a strong focus on children and young people. In its 2024 edition, held between 18 and 24 March, the initiative allowed the planting of over 600 fruit trees. The programme marked World Forest Day and World Water Day through a series of activities and distributed trees to six parish councils, four associations, ten social institutions, and 29 schools. Thousands of trees have already been planted throughout the municipality thanks to this initiative, which actively involves the community and raises awareness of the benefits of urban greening.
• Florestar Braga, active since 2014, engages students in tree-planting actions that help create micro-forests across different areas of the city. These micro-forests serve to densify tree cover, reduce noise, improve air quality, and provide more shaded areas. This programme has a strong educational value for its citizens and students, making them more sensitive to climate change. 

Braga has also prioritised the creation of green corridors. These corridors connect key natural areas of the city through continuous green strips filled with vegetation. They support biodiversity and help create a more breathable urban environment, while also offering leisure zones, cultural and sports facilities, and urban gardens. It also helps Braga cool down during extreme heat episodes and create a more welcoming and resilient city for its residents.

To date, a total of 42,497 trees have been planted through these efforts. This includes over 8,800 trees planted with the participation of more than 19,000 volunteers.

Este River

The Este River runs through the centre of Braga. As the city expanded, the river's space was gradually reduced and it became polluted with solid waste and sewage discharges. However, population growth, rising temperatures that sometimes reach 40°C, and episodes of heavy rainfall prompted the city to reassess the situation. Measures were taken to renaturalise the riverbanks, identify and eliminate sources of pollution and create an eco-path to reconnect people with the river.

Today, biodiversity has increased significantly. Residents use the area to play sports, walk as part of their daily commute, and enjoy the riverbank during the warmer months. Find out more here.

Take a look at Braga's actions

^{Photo credit: Municipality of Braga}