Casa da Lapa, interpretation centre for visits to the Park of Pena (Parque da Pena) and the Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros), has been recently renovated and, as such, will now provide informative materials that will allow visitors to learn about the natural features of Serra de Sintra, courtesy of the installation of a thematic exhibition dedicated to the theme of Biodiversity.

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, declared by the United Nations with the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity stemming from the loss of habitats and the effects of climate change, which could seriously threaten the planet's natural equilibrium and the well-being of humanity. European leaders have set themselves the target of halting the loss of biodiversity in Europe by 2010, via the implementation of a set of policies that focus on methods of protection of species and habitats that are particularly relevant in the context of a strategic framework that is integrated into the management of sustainable biodiversity. Once the aforementioned goal has been reached, 2010 will be a year of reflection on the subject, measuring the effectiveness of strategies that have been implemented and developing new environmental polices in order to obtain better results than those which have been achieved thus far.

A Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua, S.A. marks the year 2010 with a wide range of initiatives to raise the awareness of its visitors, so that everybody undertakes their own individual mission of better appreciating biodiversity on a global scale.

As well as the exhibition “BIODIVERSintra – a look at the natural features of the mountain”, on show in Casa da Lapa from the 26th of June 2010, and the “BIODIVERCycle of lectures”, running in the Palace of Monserrate Auditorium (Auditório do Palácio de Monserrate) from July to October, September of this year will also mark the launch of the project “BIO+Sintra”, funded by the community project LIFE+ as part of the “Information and Communication” component, lasting 3 years, which will implement a pilot experiment throughout the cultural landscape of Sintra that aims to introduce a change in the day-to-day attitude of visitors in regard to the reduction of carbon emissions. Through this project, it is intended that visitors will be distilled with an awareness of the sensitivity of ecosystems and to demonstrate that small actions and attitudes can help to preserve natural features and contribute to the minimisation of climate change and the resulting loss of habitats; further encouraging the adapting of a posture which will reflect positively on the appreciation of biodiversity the world over.