Agrofloresta de Campolide - Bela Flor Respira

Agrofloresta de Campolide - Bela Flor Respira is an urban agroforestry initiative located in the Bela Flor neighbourhood of Campolide, Lisbon. Born as a pilot project of co-production of public space with the local community and the wider city, it has grown over three years into a living example of community-driven urban regeneration on municipal land that was previously a degraded hillside. The project's foundations rest on fertile soil cared for through syntropic agriculture techniques, and it is guided by values of sharing, community, and sustainability. It functions as an open space, built and enjoyed collectively by residents and volunteers rather than managed top-down. Community life revolves around regular gatherings: an open day with activities held on the last Saturday of every month, where participants are invited to bring a friend and a willingness to build and have fun, and weekly Wednesday afternoon meetings that serve as a hub for volunteers to exchange knowledge and celebrate together. The initiative encourages neighbours to propose new activities and forms of sharing, reinforcing the idea that the space belongs to those who live it. Supported by various partners and organisations focused on urban regeneration, the project has been recognised in academic literature and municipal publications as a notable example of how degraded urban green spaces can be transformed into thriving agroforestry parks through active citizenship and community collaboration. It stands as a model for participatory management of public land in Lisbon, demonstrating how ecological regeneration and social cohesion can go hand in hand in an urban setting.