The ‘Líquenes à Moda do Norte’ project will study the potential use of these special fungi in ecological restoration, forest certification and in gastronomy, dyeing and cosmetic products with added value. This project is being developed by the BIOPOLIS Association, in partnership with Palombar, AEPGA - Association for the Study and Protection of Donkeys, VERDE - Association for Integrated Nature Conservation, the ALDEIA association, the companies FLORADATA and BIOMONTANA, and the Bragança Science Centre. It is funded by the “la Caixa” Foundation, under the PROMOVE programme.

Lichens may be used for forest certification. Photo: Uliana de Castro/Palombar.

Lichens: special fungi that can be much more than bioindicators

Lichens are compound organisms that result from the symbiotic association between a fungus and algae or cyanobacteria. They are best known for their important role as bioindicators of air quality, but they can serve many other purposes.

The main objective of the “Líquenes à Moda do Norte” project is to enhance and diversify the use of these organisms, benefiting both the habitat where they grow, namely the oak forests in the northern interior of the country, and human communities, through the economic valorisation of products.

The public launch event for the project took place at PINTA - Iberian Nature and Adventure Park in Vimioso. Photo: Palombar.

Lichens can be transformed into raw materials with high added value

‘Through the responsible collection of lichens and their transformation into raw material, it will be possible to develop high added-value products, in line with current trends in ethical and ecological consumption,’ said Joana Marques, researcher at BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO at the University of Porto and project coordinator.

 

Researcher Joana Marques, from BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO at the University of Porto, is the project coordinator. Photo: Palombar.

As part of this project, "specific applications will be tested in signature cuisine, with dishes incorporating edible lichens; in natural cosmetics, as ingredients in handmade soaps and perfumes; and in ecological dyeing, reviving the use of lichens as a source of natural dyes and textiles," explained the researcher during the public launch of the project, which took place on 20 February at PINTA – Iberian Nature and Adventure Park in Vimioso, in the district of Bragança.

liquenes.pt: the digital platform that will systematise information on species and distribution in Portugal

Current information on the species of lichens that occur in Portugal and their distribution is still scarce and scattered, so this project also aims to systematise this data by creating the digital platform líquenes.pt and promoting the use of citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist.

The project launch event included a lichen observation field trip and a lunch featuring local products. Photo: Rui Oliveira.
 

Observation of some species of lichens that occur in the region. Photo: Rui Oliveira.

The project has four areas of action

This project, which will take place in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes, is structured around four areas of action, in which Palombar plays a key role: the implementation of a collaborative network to map the distribution of emblematic lichens in the region's forests; conducting lichen transplantation trials for ecological restoration; the use of lichens as bioindicators for forest certification, namely FSC - Forest Stewardship Council certification; and economic valorisation in gastronomy, cosmetics and natural dyeing. Training activities involving the communities will also be carried out, as well as training for lichenologists.