PROJECT R&D+I

TITLE
“URBANMYCOSERVE” - UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING URBAN ECTOMYCORRHIZAL
FUNGI COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE THE HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICE
PROVISIONING OF URBAN TREES

HIGHLIGHTS
Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of ectomycorrhizal fungi on the growth of trees in
the urban context

ABSTRACT
Trees are extremely important for urban well-being. However they face major challenges, such as
limited space for growth, soil compaction and fluctuation between flood and drought, among
many others. Is it possible, despite everything, to support its balanced growth and development?
The URBANMYCOSERVE project aims to answer this question beginning with the principle: the roots
of the trees and the fungi from which they can benefit from each other.

As a result of a multidisciplinary partnership, URBANMYCOSERVE (Management of ectomycorrhizal

fungi communities in the promotion of ecosystem services provided by trees in an urban context)
was approved by the European program BiodivERsA3 2015.

Its objectives include: understand the environmental factors that determine the community of
fungi that associates with the roots of urban trees; determine the impact of these communities on
tree survival and provision of ecosystem services, such as improving air quality, reducing noise
pollution and reducing atmospheric carbon, among others; to test the efficiency of introducing
these fungi into less healthy adult urban trees.

KEYWORDS
Trees, Urban, Fungi, Ectomycorrhizal

PROMOTERS / PARTNERS
Escola Superior de Biotecnologia – Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Coordenador); Universidade Católica de
Lovaina (Bc); Universidade INRA-Clermont (Fr); Universidade de Estrasburgo (Fr); Forestis; Mycotrend e
Câmara Municipal do Porto.

FINANCING PROGRAM EXECUTION DATE GLOBAL BUDGET

BiodivERsA3 2015 2017-2019 € 947.216

CONTACTS (ESB) E-MAIL PHONE

Paula Castro pcastro@porto.ucp.pt +351 22 55 800 97