IN MY BACKYARD
LOCATION
Esposende region (Portugal)
Type/s of pollution
Soil pollution
Sustainable Development Goals addressed
Number of citizens involved
110
The pilot was concluded in October 2020.
What was this project about?
The aim of the project was to to understand and map the use of pesticides and fertilizers in the context of home farming and gardening. Simultaneously, it aimed to disseminate information on the topic with the final aim of reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
The pilot area was the Neiva river mouth area, in the municipality of Esposende, Portugal, just within the Northern Littoral Natural Park.
The activities carried out include on-site visits to domestic backyard based on an ethnographic approach coupled with questionnaires, and an online survey. Beside this, the project carried out several dissemination and capacitation meetings with local community members. The meetings provided participants with detailed information on sustainable home gardening practices, including how to create fertilizers in a do-it-by- yourself way.
This project was implemented by the NGO Rio Neiva / based in Esposende, Portugal. It has a team that is well rooted in the local community, and has successfully implemented public participation projects. They will collaborate with the Esposende Environmental Education Centre.
What was novel and innovative?
Little was known on the use of fertilizers in home gardening, so the project provided access to new information that could lead to further research and local actions. Additionally, the use of an ethnographic approach in citizen science, can be considered innovative as well.
Are you interested in doing something similar?
Here you can access more information on the project and the research results.
Pilot’s media
