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As fontes de energia renováveis caracterizam-se, em termos gerais, pela sua disponibilidade descentralizada, por apresentarem uma capacidade para se auto-regenerarem em curtos períodos de tempo e pelos reduzidos impactes ambientais decorrentes da sua utilização. A procura pelos recursos energéticos endógenos poderá dar um importante contributo para a redução do consumo de energia fóssil, com reflexos directos sobre os preocupantes impactes ambientais a si associados, permitindo assim, a melhoria da qualidade do ar, da saúde das populações, bem como, a redução/controlo da importante e crescente poluição industrial e urbana, com respectivas implicações para o aquecimento global.

Olive tree wood is an agricultural residue largely available in Portugal. It is estimated that the amount of material annually produced from olive trees pruning, can be up to 250 000 tonnes. This wood resulting from pruning is a material rich in cellulose and hemicelluloses which can be recovered for the production of 2nd generation ethanol through its use as feedstock. Pretreatment is a crucial step in bioconversion of lignocellulosics to bioethanol, in order to improve the carbohydrates accessibility to enzymatic attack. In the present work, the optimization of dilute acid pretreatment conditions of olive tree pruning was studied.

Residues of olive trees pruning need to be removed every year so as not to compromise the health of the fruit (olives). However, at present, despite disposal costs, there is no monetization this waste. Therefore, the use of this waste for the production of cellulosic ethanol could be quite promising. In the present work, the optimization of dilute acid pretreatment conditions of olive tree pruning was studied. A fundamental step in the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic materials is the improvement of the carbohydrates accessibility to enzymatic hydrolysis, which can be performed with physic-chemical pretreatments.

Avaliação do potencial de produção de etanol de 2.ª geração a partir dos resíduos das podas do olival.

In this study we developed a decision support system based on multicriteria spatial analysis in order to select sites suitable to locate biomass plants. A set of environmental, economic and social criteria was defined, evaluated and weighted in the context of Saaty's analytic hierarchies. The best alternatives were obtained after applying Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The model was applied to the central region of Portugal where forest and agriculture are the most representative land uses. Finally, sensitivity analysis of the set of factors and their associated weights was performed to test the robustness of the model. The proposed evaluation model provides a valuable reference for decision makers in establishing a standardized means of selecting the optimal location for new biomass plants.

The CLIMRisk project focuses on a specific transitional area (NUTS II), strategically located between the southern plains and the northern mountainous area, which intrinsically experience the influence of the complete set of risks characteristic to both regions. Building upon the published research and the technical ability of the created consortium, CLIMRisk proposed the integrated study of climate variability and evolution (2041-2070), coastal erosion, rivershed water quality (Nabão and Lis rivers), biomonitoring and flood risk assessment, forest fire hazards, thus building upon the created knowledge base to propose usable tailor made adaptation measures. The outputs of the project clearly benefit the scientific community and inherent educational mainstreaming, whereas directly targeting organizations dealing with the general public, and environmental education. Furthermore, is of utmost relevance for policy makers, decision-makers,and stakeholders,as a valuable tool in developing suitable adaptation measures, which hopefully will reduce their harmful effects at a regional scale.

To assess Forest Biomass availability requires a hard field work survey and elaborate calculation techniques for vegetation classification and quantification. In March, April and May 2006, 900 sampling plots were surveyed with a help of a portable GIS (Geographical Information System) with GPS (Global Positioning System) capabilities. Within each sampling plot, an extensive field work was made in order to completely classify and quantify available forestry biomass. Data collection was regarding total number of trees within sampling plot, individual trees diameter at breast height, mean tree’s height, mean tree’s volume, mean tree’s canopy height and mean tree’s age. The results showed a range of values from 6.00 up to 21.00 dry ton./ha for adult Pinus pinaster (maritime pine) stands and from 1.00 up to 6.00 dry ton./ha for adult Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) stands, both for thinning stands or for clear cut stands. In a second stage, they were applied geostatistic techniques (e.g. Weighted Inverse Distance, Kriging) in order to extend sampling plot results to fully study area and to create continuous biomass maps.

This work focuses on developed a decision support system based on multicriteria spatial analysis to assess the potential for generation of biomass residues from forestry sources in a region of Portugal (Beira Baixa). A set of environmental, economic and social criteria was defined, evaluated and weighted in the context of Saaty's analytic hierarchies. The best alternatives were obtained after applying Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The model was applied to the central region of Portugal where forest and agriculture are the most representative land uses. Finally, sensitivity analysis of the set of factors and their associated weights was performed to test the robustness of the model. The proposed evaluation model provides a valuable reference for decision makers in establishing a standardized means of selecting the optimal location for new biomass plants.

Eucalyptus and maritime pine forests provide most of the wood harvested in Portugal. Due mainly to forest fires maritime pine forest has been converted to eucalyptus plantations. In the central inland of Portugal these species are well represented, and their productivities are quite the same. The objectives of the study were: (1) to assess average wood volume, biomass production and carbon content of eucalyptus plantations and naturally regenerated maritime pine stands; (2) to evaluate biomass nutrients concentration of eucalyptus sprouts selection and maritime pine non-commercial thinning; (3) to analyse these forests cover change in relation to the annual burnt areas; and (4) to produce the species ecological envelope maps to foresee future environmental impacts of these forests current distribution. Simulation models were used to assess wood volume, biomass production and carbon content. Field data was collected to evaluate biomass nutrients concentration and to validated simulated data. Forest inventory data and forest cover maps were used to analyse forest cover change. Biogeographical variables were used to produce species ecological envelope maps. It was found that eucalyptus plantations provide higher mean annual wood volume, biomass production and carbon content. Biomass nutrients concentration in eucalyptus sprouts selection were higher than in maritime pine non-commercial thinning, particularly in calcium and potassium. Overall eucalyptus forests area did not increase substantially but the fires in maritime pine forests gave the opportunity for eucalyptus afforestation. That has precluded the opportunity for introducing native broadleaves to respond to climate changes, improve landscape biodiversity and mitigate fire hazard. Implementing good management practices to prevent losses of soil fertility by nutrients exhaustion, organic matter depletion or erosion were found more relevant in eucalyptus plantations than in naturally maritime pine forest. Species ecological envelope maps and production simulation models are key tools for supporting decision in afforestation planning.

Poster apresentado no II Encontro de Sistemas de Informação Geográfica que decorreu de 19 a 20 de Maio de 2011 na Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco.

Este Manual pretende ser um veículo de informação útil para tornar as populações mais resilientes aos riscos climáticos e aumentar a consciência ambiental coletiva. Tem como objetivo numa primeira leitura, despertar em cada um dos leitores a importância da autoproteção e posteriormente desencadear conversas com familiares e amigos sobre boas práticas quer de prevenção, quer de atuação em situação de emergência. Neste manual consideram-se pessoas de risco: idosos ou dependentes, recém-nascidos e crianças pequenas e pessoas com doença crónica. O Manual deve estar na sua casa ou local de trabalho, em local acessível, e deve ser lido por todos.

A obra é constituída pelos resumos das comunicações apresentadas pelos docentes da Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco e são referentes aos projetos de investigação nos quais estão envolvidos.

O presente relatório resulta do trabalho de avaliação ao curso de Engenharia das Ciências Agrárias opção Engenharia Rural levado a cabo pela equipa de Auto-Avaliação da Escola Superior Agrária. Esta equipa, designada pelo conselho científico com a finalidade de proceder a todas as solicitações de avaliação tanto dos cursos como da instituição, é basicamente composta por um coordenador e um elemento de cada unidade departamental. Conforme o curso que se está a avaliar juntam-se à equipa o respectivo coordenador de curso e colaboradores na compilação do relatório. Além destes elementos participaram também neste trabalho um representante dos alunos (designado pela associação de estudantes) e dois funcionários representantes do pessoal administrativo e do pessoal não docente. Em termos metodológicos optou-se pelo seguimento mais ou menos fiel do guião proposto pelo CNAVES, tendo-se recolhido informação de diversos modos: pesquisa documental e bases de dados nos serviços administrativos, inquéritos auto administrados a alunos, docentes e funcionários, inquérito postal aos diplomados e entrevistas directas (por telefone) às entidades empregadoras. Uma vez recolhida e tratada a informação procedeu-se à sua análise crítica tendo como referência os trabalhos de avaliação que até então decorreram relativamente na Escola.

Natural hazards and correlated risks fill worldwide headlines raising both public and governmental concern. Though only major impacts reach the national headlines, locally many regions are already experiencing hands-on the effects of climate change by means of droughts, heatwaves, floods, forest fires, among others. The loss of lives and the considerable cost to the public revenue led to the decree of new representative offices and branches of crisis and civil protection. Facing a new public and scientific information demand for new data and above all solutions for such pertinent issues, the Polytechnic of Tomar proposes CLIMRisk ’Climate change adaptation measures in the management of natural and environmental risks’ as a starting point to a new integrated line of research where all variables alike will be addressed, studied and interpreted in a geographical database (geodatabase). The consortium encompasses both in scientific research relevance and geographical coverage the institutions: Polytechnics of Tomar, Leiria and Castelo Branco; the Municipalities of Our´em and Ferreira do Zˆezere; and the Civil Protection and Forestry bureaus. The CLIMRisk project focuses on a specific transitional area (NUTS II), strategically located between the southern plains and the northern mountainous area, which intrinsically experiences the influence of the complete set of risks characteristic to both regions. Building upon the published research and the technical ability of the created consortium, CLIMRisk proposes the integrated study of climate, coastal areas, rivers, forestry, and biological variables, associated risks, thus building upon the created knowledgebase to propose useable tailor made adaptation measures. The outputs of the project clearly benefit the scientific community and inherent educational mainstreaming, whereas directly targeting organizations dealing with the general public, and environmental education. Furthermore, is of utmost relevance for policymakers, decision-makers, and stakeholders, as a valuable tool in developing suitable adaptation measures, which hopefully will reduce their harmful effects at a regional scale.

A publicação contém os resumos das comunicações apresentadas no Seminário "“Paisagens Fire-Smart. Criando Territórios Resilientes ao Fogo”

Relatório de execução física do Projeto ClimRisk - Relatório intermédio do Projeto ClimRisk - Climate change adaptation measures in the management of natural and environmental risks, entre 18/09/2017 e 18/06/2018.

Foram apresentados os resultados do projeto ClimRisk. De entre os resultados obtidos, verificou-se um aumento global da temperatura média para o período entre 2041-2070 em todas as estações, com particular expressão no verão. As anomalias da temperatura média indicam um aumento entre 1,6 a 2,7°C para o verão. As regiões mais afetadas serão as do interior norte e sul. Na área de estudo, os concelhos do interior (Vila de Rei, Sertã, Sardoal, Abrantes, Mação, Proença-a-Nova e Oleiros) serão os mais afetados, com particular intensidade no outono e verão. Para a precipitação, os resultados apontam para uma diminuição global em todas as estações, com exceção do inverno, para o qual se prevê um aumento até 28 mm no nordeste, sendo residual a Sul do Tejo (Alentejo e Algarve). Os resultados indicam que as regiões mais afetadas serão as do noroeste de Portugal (litoral). Na área de estudo, os concelhos do interior (Oleiros, Sertã, Ferreira do Zêzere, Vila de Rei, Mação, Proença-a-Nova) serão os mais afetados, com particular intensidade no outono e na primavera. Na bacia hidrográfica do rio Lis, foram analisados os impactes decorrentes dos vários cenários climáticos e os resultados apontam para que, no período 2041-2070, ocorram mais eventos de inundação, com cerca de 40 dias com caudal superior ao caudal associado à cheia centenária. Na região Centro, os resultados projetam um aumento do índice meteorológico de perigo de incêndio (FWI) para o período entre 2041-2070, com a consequente previsão de um acréscimo da área ardida no território rural.