Helena Freitas is Full Professor of Biodiversity and Ecology at the University of Coimbra and has been awarded the EEF Ernst Haeckel Award for her contributions to European ecological science, in 2024. At present, she serves as the Coordinator of the Center for Functional Ecology, overseeing initiatives at the intersection of science, societal wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. Her expertise encompasses a wide array of scientific areas, including Mediterranean ecosystems, agroecology, conservation biology, microbial ecology, and environmental policy. Currently, Helena has been fostering applied ecological research, leading several EU projects in agroecology, the agrifood sector and landscape management. She holds the UNESCO Chair in Biodiversity Safeguard for Sustainable Development since 2013. Helena has served in management and political roles and held key positions in environmental organizations (founder and president of the League for the Protection of Nature and the Portuguese Society of Ecology, and vice-presidency in the European Society of Ecology).

Keynote Details

Monday 29 June

Symposium 2: Phytoremediation

Soil contamination disrupts not only chemical integrity but also biological networks and ecosystem functioning. In my talk I will explore phytoremediation as more than a contaminant removal strategy, positioning it as a driver of soil health recovery and ecological restoration.

After outlining the major mechanisms of phytoremediation, I will examine how plant-based remediation improves soil structure, organic matter dynamics, and nutrient cycling. Attention will be given to the re-establishment of plant–microbe interactions in the rhizosphere, including microbial community restructuring and functional recovery.

Finally, I will discuss how these biological processes contribute to the restoration of ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration, primary productivity, and trophic interactions, highlighting phytoremediation as a regenerative, nature-based solution for long-term resilience.