Ana Pinheira: Using biodiversity science to shape greener urban decisions in Guimarães

Ana Pinheira is an ecologist based in Guimarães, contributing to the city’s transformation as European Green Capital 2026. Currently pursuing a PhD, and with a background in environmental science and ecology, her work focuses on biodiversity monitoring and how ecosystems respond to human activity.

Since joining the Landscape Laboratory in 2019, Ana has been working at the intersection of research and implementation. By collaborating with local authorities, academia and private stakeholders, her work helps to ensure that scientific knowledge directly informs environmental decision-making. “What I value most is that our work is meaningful and connected to the territory”, she explains.

Making science useful and accessible

Ana’s work ranges from monitoring species and assessing river ecosystems to supporting conservation actions and managing invasive species. Alongside this, she is committed to making science accessible through communication tools such as field guides and illustrations, helping translate technical knowledge into practical understanding.

Her PhD research focuses on green corridors and their impact on biodiversity, aiming to support more informed urban planning. By analysing how species react to human presence, her work contributes to designing greener and more resilient cities.

A city driven by collaboration and citizen action

Guimarães’ European Green Capital title reflects years of coordinated effort between institutions and citizens. One standout initiative is the ‘Green Brigades’; these local volunteer groups organise activities such as clean-ups, biodiversity monitoring and tree planting across the city.

Another key initiative, the Guimarães 2030 Biodiversity Action Plan, combines research with citizen science. Residents are trained to observe and collect ecological data, strengthening both scientific knowledge and public engagement.

“These initiatives help people understand what exists in their city and encourage them to take part in protecting it”, says Ana.

Turning engagement into lasting change

For Ana, citizen involvement is essential but remains a challenge. She highlights that participation is most effective when it is local and tangible. “People engage more when they can see a direct connection to their daily lives”, she reflects.

This is why many initiatives are designed at neighbourhood level and built through co-creation, allowing citizens to be involved from the start. Citizen science projects, in particular, play a key role by combining learning with real contribution. “When people see the impact of their efforts, they are much more likely to stay involved”, Ana points out.

Young people are also central to this dynamic. Through school programmes and participatory initiatives like the children’s parliament, they are encouraged to actively contribute to shaping their city’s future.

Looking beyond 2026

Ana hopes the European Green Capital title will leave a lasting legacy for Guimarães and Portugal in general, embedding sustainability into long-term planning and decision-making. She also sees potential at national level, with Portugal increasingly integrating ecological data into policy and recognising biodiversity as essential infrastructure.

What motivates her most is the impact of small-scale actions. She recalls how a simple community-built pond quickly boosted local biodiversity, a clear example of how local engagement can deliver meaningful results.

For Ana, the future of sustainable cities depends on one key factor: connection.  Between people and nature, and between science and policy.