Marta Sofia, the Livre party candidate, proposes a “renaturalization” of Funchal through a comprehensive approach that emphasises urban nature as a key factor for enhancing the city’s quality of life and resilience.
Her goal is to create a greener, more sustainable city prepared for climate change challenges. “Funchal has enormous potential to become an example of a green city. Our proposals go far beyond planting trees. We want to integrate nature into the city’s infrastructure, creating spaces that improve thermal comfort, biodiversity, and the health of Funchal residents.”
Among the proposals is the creation of a network of green spaces that connects the city, promoting smooth mobility and leisure. This represents the creation of Urban Microforests, Green and Cycling corridors, and the ‘Cool the City’ programme, which provides for the requalification of areas without adequate shade into islands of freshness and conviviality, with trees and adequate urban furniture.
As for Green management and Protection of Natural Heritage, it aims at the Modern Management of Green Infrastructure, through the planned integration of green and forest spaces into the urban fabric to improve air quality, retain water in the soil and reduce urban heating; the Tree Management Regulation, to put an end to poorly executed pruning and indiscriminate cutting, protecting vegetation and urban biodiversity; and the protection of the Coastline, preventing real estate construction in Praia Formosa and ensuring that the Municipal Master Plan does not reduce agricultural areas and green spaces.”
Already focusing on sustainability, Livre’s proposals include measures for the transition to a circular economy and the valorisation of resources: the ‘Funchal Plástico Free’ Programme, for launching in partnership with local commerce, a municipal system of reusable cups. The improvement of Waste Collection, with the implementation of pilot projects for the collection and recovery of bio-waste and the optimisation of collection routes; and Urban Gardens and Agricultural Land Grants, as an incentive to boost local food production, with the distribution of plots for cultivation and the creation of municipal agricultural land grants for new producers, reducing the ecological footprint of imported foods.”
In addition to these measures, Marta Sofia’s candidacy also commits to establishing a Municipal Plan for Climate Change.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
