Serra da Estrela plan in consultation
The ICNF opened a public consultation, until 16 July, on a management plan for the Serra da Estrela conservation zone, revised to reflect the 2022 and 2025 wildfires.
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20 June 2026
Good morning! Today's Pulse moves from cross-border rivers and conservation plans to Douro yeasts, a badger in Évora and a fresh set of cicada stamps.
Turtle dove hunting reopens
The ICNF authorised turtle dove hunting again, raising the quota to 15,000 birds. Conservationists argue the moratorium imposed after a steep population decline should have continued.
Questions over Lindoso reservoir
The Left Bloc is seeking answers about cyanobacteria and contamination alerts in the Lindoso reservoir, raising concerns for the shared Lima river ecosystem.
A badger in Évora
Mystery tracks near Évora's Água da Prata aqueduct turned out to belong to a Eurasian badger, a species common across mainland Portugal.
Albufeira Convention revision approved
The government approved a protocol revising Portugal-Spain river management, setting a flow regime for the Guadiana at Pomarão for the first time.
EPAL's Pátio da Água returns
EPAL's water awareness space reopens on Lisbon's Avenida da Liberdade with a renewed focus on inclusion, workshops and summer concerts.
El Niño and fire risk
The European Commission warns that a likely El Niño, combined with a wet spring and excess biomass, could raise wildfire risk in Portugal this summer.
Albergaria's mobile water tanks
Albergaria-a-Velha is installing eight large mobile water tanks to avoid the supply failures seen in the 2024 wildfires, alongside forest restoration works.
€30M for storm-hit farmers
A €30 million EU support package for farmers hit by winter storms is due to be voted next week, with Portugal set to receive the largest share.
Quartel da Graça rent dispute
The Sana group has asked to revise its concession to turn Lisbon's Quartel da Graça into a hotel, while suspending rent payments now exceeding four million euros.
Rural property reform in parliament
Parliament extended by 120 days its review of a bill to reform rural land ownership, aiming to curb fragmentation and strengthen wildfire prevention.
Young farmers in olive farming
At an event in Brinches, AJAP highlighted young farmers' role in olive sector innovation and presented its Rural Innovation Challenges, open until 16 August.
Data platform for Alentejo wines
The Alentejo wine commission launched DATA+, gathering over five million production records, alongside a study valuing the sector at €1.45 billion.
FACECO fair in Odemira
FACECO returns to São Teotónio from 16 to 19 July, celebrating livestock, local products, crafts and gastronomy over four days this year.
Douro's native yeasts
University of Minho researchers showed that native Douro grape yeasts can give wines greater aromatic complexity and regional character.
Évora joins nematology network
A MED/University of Évora researcher joins NEXUS, a new European COST Action building an interdisciplinary nematology network for health and agriculture.
MED at European PhD workshop
MED researchers took part in the 11th EAAE PhD Workshop, with ten doctoral students presenting work on climate adaptation, sustainable diets and food waste.
Coimbra geology prize
The University of Coimbra created a prize covering tuition for up to 20 first-year geology students, framing geology as key to sustainability and the energy transition.
Ports transition conference
The Setúbal Polytechnic hosts the NEXUS conference on 24-25 June, on digital and green transition in maritime ports.
Greener corporate fleets
A study found over half of Portuguese companies already use electrified vehicles, with EVs expected to reach 22% of corporate fleets within three years.
Renewable-powered shopping centres
MAR Shopping Matosinhos and Algarve ran their common areas on fully renewable electricity, with high recycling rates and zero landfill at Matosinhos.
€111M housing plan in VRSA
Vila Real de Santo António is investing over €111 million, mostly from the PRR, to buy, build and renovate homes for more than 820 families with energy improvements.
Rethinking retail sustainability
The RE:SET Retail event in Oeiras on 25 June brings the sector together around circular economy, eco-design and a study on the say-do gap in sustainable shopping.
More slots on Madeira's Areeiro trail
Madeira's IFCN is adding 140 daily early-morning slots to the popular Vereda do Areeiro trail, easing pressure from growing visitor demand.
Secret corners of Monsanto
A guided 12km walk on 28 June explores hidden historic and botanical highlights of Lisbon's Monsanto and Tapada da Ajuda.
North Wave festival in the Azores
The North Wave festival returns to Ribeira Grande on 25 July with an all-female lineup and a talk series on women's leadership in the Azores.
Douro estate reborn as retreat
Quinta da Vacaria, a Douro estate dating to 1616, reopened as a five-star wine tourism retreat with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Stamps for Portugal's cicadas
CTT launched a collection of six stamps featuring Portuguese cicada species, several threatened by urbanisation, wildfires and pesticides.
Local climate journalism in focus
Sul Informação shared its experience with the Climate Frontline programme at a resilience forum in Guimarães, where a climate reporting toolkit was launched.
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