UN Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - Local Agenda 21 -Ecological Park of Monsanto (Parque Ecológico de Monsanto)

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM WESTERN EUROPE AND OTHER STATES

Ecological Park of Monsanto (Parque Ecológico de Monsanto) This and other Local Agenda 21 succes story are provided by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

Location Lisbon, Portugal.

Responsible organization The Lisbon Municipal Council's Department of Environment and Green Spaces.

Description The Parque Ecológico de Monsanto has been fully operational since March 28, 1996, though it will continue to develop with new ideas and new contributions for a continuous (re)creation. It was created as one of the municipality's strategic priorities for the municipality's environmental policy.
The Park provides the public with environmental education free of charge. There, people learn about the environment as a whole and have the opportunity to appreciate the relationships among the various ecosystem elements as well as humanity's role in creating a responsible and balanced relation with this environment.

Issues addressed Urban green space and public education on environmental issues.

Objectives To provide environmental education to shape new attitudes leading towards environmentally healthier and responsible behaviour while enriching Lisbon's quality of ecological and landscape features.

Results achieved Positive public reaction due to the innovative nature of the park's infrastructure. (Only two other parks in Portugal have a similar function and infrastructure.) A daily average of 200 visitors.

Lessons learned The Parque Ecológico de Monsanto is a current project and provides an answer to a concern shared by many local and national governments, increasing the public environmental awareness and educating as the most effective means of ensuring society's sustainable development on a long-term basis.

Financing The total cost of implementing the project was 600,000,000 PTE, financed by the municipality of Lisbon. The project also received a sponsorship from Phillips to install the park's audio-visual equipment. The Park's operation budget for the first year was about 100,000,000 PTE, an amount which included the construction of some basic park services.

Contact Joaquim Ramos, Municipal Director of the Environment and Green Areas, Av. 24 de Julho, no. 171 C, P - 1350 Lisbon, Portugal; Tel: +351-1/396-2164, Fax: +351-1/397-5154
The original text for this case study was submmitted by the Local Sustainability European Good Practice Information Service (http://cities21.com/europractice) in its original format from the City of Lisbon (1996)

Copyright Š United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Ecological Park of Monsanto (Parque Ecológico de Monsanto) This and other Local Agenda 21 succes story are provided by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).
	Location	Lisbon, Portugal.
	Responsible organization	The Lisbon Municipal Council's Department of Environment and Green Spaces.
	Description	The Parque Ecológico de Monsanto has been fully operational since March 28, 1996, though it will continue to develop with new ideas and new contributions for a continuous (re)creation. It was created as one of the municipality's strategic priorities for the municipality's environmental policy. The Park provides the public with environmental education free of charge. There, people learn about the environment as a whole and have the opportunity to appreciate the relationships among the various ecosystem elements as well as humanity's role in creating a responsible and balanced relation with this environment.
	Issues addressed	Urban green space and public education on environmental issues.
	Objectives	To provide environmental education to shape new attitudes leading towards environmentally healthier and responsible behaviour while enriching Lisbon's quality of ecological and landscape features.
	Results achieved	Positive public reaction due to the innovative nature of the park's infrastructure. (Only two other parks in Portugal have a similar function and infrastructure.) A daily average of 200 visitors.
	Lessons learned	The Parque Ecológico de Monsanto is a current project and provides an answer to a concern shared by many local and national governments, increasing the public environmental awareness and educating as the most effective means of ensuring society's sustainable development on a long-term basis.
	Financing	The total cost of implementing the project was 600,000,000 PTE, financed by the municipality of Lisbon. The project also received a sponsorship from Phillips to install the park's audio-visual equipment. The Park's operation budget for the first year was about 100,000,000 PTE, an amount which included the construction of some basic park services.
	Contact	Joaquim Ramos, Municipal Director of the Environment and Green Areas, Av. 24 de Julho, no. 171 C, P - 1350 Lisbon, Portugal; Tel: +351-1/396-2164, Fax: +351-1/397-5154 The original text for this case study was submmitted by the Local Sustainability European Good Practice Information Service (http://cities21.com/europractice) in its original format from the City of Lisbon (1996)