Iberian brown bears shrank over time
A NOVA study of over 500 fossils found Iberian brown bears lost more than half their body size over thousands of years, mostly due to human pressure and habitat change.
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19 June 2026
Good morning! Today's Pulse spans bears that shrank over millennia, biotech soil cleanups and a record month for renewables. A calm look at where sustainable Portugal stands.
Portugal's first Red List of fungi
The national biodiversity strategy commits to producing the country's first Red List of fungi by 2030, led by the ICNF, alongside a citizen science platform.
Tripling zinc in sorghum grains
Porto researchers tripled zinc in sorghum grains by tweaking a molecular sensor gene, exceeding biofortification targets and potentially cutting fertiliser use.
Tangerine project challenged in Alcácer do Sal
The Dunas Livres association wants a reformulated tangerine project rejected, citing falling aquifer levels and threats to protected habitats despite reduced water use.
Concern over felling in Ovar pine forest
MEP Catarina Martins asked Brussels to halt large-scale felling in the protected Ovar dunes forest, alleging the ICNF splits projects to avoid impact assessments.
Tourists breach fence in Madeira's Laurisilva
A video showed tourists crawling under a protective fence in the UNESCO-listed Fanal forest, reigniting debate over enforcement and visitor awareness.
Foz Côa cracks down on illegal dumps
Vila Nova de Foz Côa cleared two illegal dumpsites, reported alleged offenders and pledged a zero-tolerance policy with tighter inspections.
Renewables hit 72.7% in May
Renewables supplied 72.7% of mainland electricity in May, avoiding hundreds of millions in gas imports and CO2 costs, placing Portugal third in Europe.
New body for old furniture and mattresses
The Circular+MC association will manage end-of-life furniture and mattresses, with collection targets rising to 40% by 2030 to boost reuse and recycling.
Electric car demand surges in Faro
Demand for electric cars in the Faro district rose 149% in early 2026, far outpacing supply, signalling strong momentum in the Algarve's EV market.
Refurbed names new board chair
The refurbished-products marketplace Refurbed appointed Jan Kemper as board chair, as it expands across 24 markets and promotes the circular economy.
Manie strengthens energy team
Portuguese startup Manie hired João Maria Silva to lead its B2B expansion in smart energy contract management, including self-consumption solutions.
New national climate adaptation strategy
The Government approved the ENAAC2030 strategy to prepare all sectors for heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and floods, with Portugal among Europe's most vulnerable countries.
Reguengos irrigation circuit advances
EDIA expects the Reguengos Hydraulic Circuit to start irrigating in 2027, part of a near-€100 million project covering 8,500 hectares across four Alentejo municipalities.
Madeira rebuilds flood-damaged channel
Madeira approved €1.39 million to rebuild hydraulic infrastructure on Ribeiro dos Enxurros after 2020 flood damage, framed as climate adaptation.
Water efficiency conference in Sousel
Águas do Alto Alentejo hosts a 3 July conference in Sousel on water efficiency and circular economy, with drought management and biomethane among the topics.
Biotech cleanups for water and soil
Two Catholic University projects are developing biotech solutions to remove micropollutants from wastewater and bioremediate soils contaminated with PFAS.
Testing bike and bus links in Faro
The University of Algarve tested bike and bus routes between its two Faro campuses, spotting gaps like missing crosswalks and cycle lanes for future fixes.
Living gallery on the goals in Alcoutim
Alcoutim's castle becomes a free interactive gallery on 20 June with 17 posts on the UN goals, part of its push to become a Sustainable Destination.
Strong demand for environmental fund grants
Portugal's Environmental Fund paid out €22.5 million in agricultural grants, with quick uptake across livestock, pasture conversion and energy efficiency measures.
Agri-food sector worth over 25 billion
At FIPA's conference, leaders highlighted the agri-food sector's strength and exports, while warning of heavy dependence on imported cereals.
Bigger support for Madeira's grapes
Madeira sharply raised subsidies for traditional grape varieties, helping preserve heritage vines and boost income while modernising vineyards.
Innovation Prize opens to all Algarve
The Mediterranean Diet Fair's Innovation Prize in Tavira is now open to all Algarve producers, rewarding sustainable, viable agri-food ideas.
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A short read every morning — what's happening across sustainable Portugal.
Recent
- Good morning. Today's Pulse looks at forests, soil and dammed rivers, at how the country moves and what it decides to fund — and ends, as it should, with a 905-kilo pumpkin.
- Today Portugal negotiates with its own landscape: a solar plant shrinks after 12,000 objections, goats are proposed as firefighters, and a Madeiran trail closes for a footbridge. We end on straw roofs and a very clean beach.
- Sunday brings grape harvests and border fairs, a city plan under debate, and a soap factory reborn as student halls. A calm read through the week's quieter shifts.
- Good morning. Today the wild world takes the lead — orcas that touch boats, butterflies judged by their colours, power lines going underground — before we turn to water, waste and the quieter work happening in villages and vineyards.
- A quiet Thursday with plenty to be curious about: glowing salamanders, seahorse shelters made from shopping trolleys, and a country busy with water, wine and housing. Take it at your own pace.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse moves from the land and its restoration to the streets we cross every day, with a fair, a festival and one olive tree per child waiting at the end.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse moves from turtles heading back out to sea to bins that keep overflowing, with a good deal of clever thinking in between.
- Bom dia. Today's Pulse begins underwater, with seahorses making a home out of what we threw away, and ends with markets, gardens and dance floors. In between: the air we breathe, the waste we make, and the fields that feed us.
- Good morning. Today the land does most of the talking: wheat we no longer grow, grapes we do, wolves in the north and a quarry silenced by a court in the Algarve. We close, as ever, with the smaller and warmer things.
- A day that leans on the land: vines recovering from fire, boars at the village edge, and questions about what our fields are for. We close with a fair, a festival and a quiet country house.