Sines has 76.3% of its territory under ecological reserve status

Sines has the highest proportion of protected land among Alentejo Litoral municipalities, with 76.3% of its 20,330 hectares classified under the National Ecological Reserve (REN), according to CCDR Alentejo data. Odemira follows with 61.3%, then Santiago do Cacém and Grândola, while Alcácer do Sal has the lowest share at 16.4%. REN covers about 45% of the region. The finding is notable because Sines also hosts major national investment projects, including port and industrial complexes and green hydrogen ventures, creating tension the CCDR must now manage under recently expanded powers to approve public-interest projects within REN areas.