Restoring the Mira river
The Government and Odemira are investing 2.8 million euros to dredge and renaturalise the Mira, recovering its banks and ecosystems by 2027.
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Seven days of the Pulse, curated into one weekly read.
Pulse
17 July 2026
Good morning. Today's Pulse spans wild births in the Algarve, debates over where renewables should go, and communities finding new ways to save water and care for their land.
WWF wants a bolder restoration plan
WWF Portugal warns the national nature restoration plan lacks defined funding, clear governance and ambition for marine and coastal ecosystems.
A life among the trees of Gerês
A look back at the creation of the Peneda-Gerês National Park and José Moreira da Silva, who led it from 1975.
Municipalities get the final say
The Government assures towns will have full autonomy to define renewable acceleration zones within their local plans, after 9,000 public inputs.
Porto de Mós pushes back
The council gave an unfavourable opinion on the renewable acceleration zones, citing legal gaps and risks to the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros park.
Fundão and Évora object too
Fundão, its parishes and two Évora groups filed objections over risks to land and heritage, calling for more consultation and a heritage impact review.
Algarve beats water-loss targets
Algarve municipalities exceeded PRR targets, rehabilitating over 160 km of pipes and saving more than 2.15 million cubic metres of water.
Lisbon's Water College
The University of Lisbon launched an interdisciplinary platform to tackle scarcity, pollution and climate adaptation, backed by Gulbenkian funding.
Girabolhos dam: towns want guarantees
Municipalities affected by the future dam asked for roads, water-supply guarantees and Mondego protection; the minister promised a monitoring commission.
Porto's decade of mobility
Porto's new plan buries stretches of the VCI ring road, adds bike sharing, more bus lanes and metro links, reducing the car's dominance.
Madeira presses on transport rules
A regional MP urged the Government to clarify the territorial continuity mechanism and fix a confusing new platform for residents' fares.
Young ideas rewarded in Câmara de Lobos
A recycling app, a mural and a street library won 5,000 euros in a youth ideas contest that drew record entries.
Pardilhó students honour wetlands
Around 180 students earned second place nationally with an exhibition on the Ria de Aveiro, blending science, art and technology.
Beach litter turned into art
Photographer Nuno Antunes turned debris from Alentejo beaches into 18 artworks in Porto Covo, raising awareness about coastal pollution.
Theatre among the trees
A show at Sintra's Quinta da Ribafria blends theatre, science and poetry to explore how trees communicate and why biodiversity matters.
Biowaste at the Portimão market
EMARP is handing out free brown bins and running family activities on organic waste at Portimão's Lota Cool Market until Sunday.
A summer of Mediterranean flavours
CCDR Centro's summer agenda gathers food events, fairs and walks celebrating regional produce and Mediterranean diet traditions.
New pollution in the Este river
The CARE group denounced a fresh polluting discharge into Braga's Este river, sharing images of the impact on a valued waterway.
Beach ban raises questions
The opposition in Santa Cruz blames sanitation failures for a bathing ban at Praia das Palmeiras and demands a modernisation plan.
The Douro's existential crisis
An opinion piece warns the Douro region faces urgent challenges and calls on the Government to be an active partner in finding solutions.
Azores recover most of their waste
In 2025, 82% of the Azores' urban waste was sent for recovery and landfill dropped to 18%, below the interim target.
More electronics recycled
Electrão collected 19% more used electrical equipment in the first half of the year, over 24,000 tonnes, boosted by a wider network.
Storm-damaged solar panels pile up
Storms in central Portugal pushed photovoltaic panels sent for recycling from 213 to 3,356 tonnes year-on-year.
CEBAL researcher wins award
Daniela Rosa was recognised for a plant-based nanoemulsion offering a sustainable alternative to conventional herbicides.
Turning charcoal waste into hydrogen
The BioHyCarb project reuses a gaseous by-product of charcoal to produce renewable hydrogen and carbon nanotubes.
Coffee grounds protect cooking oil
University of Aveiro researchers developed a coffee-grounds solution to help extend the shelf life of cooking oils.
Sustainable homes for the south
An article makes the case for climate-adapted home design in southern Portugal, combining cork insulation, solar and water reuse.
Rural tourism in Câmara de Lobos
Quinta do Serrado opened after a two-million-euro investment that restored a vineyard, chapel and main house.
Madeira debates its future economy
Madeira's economic council discussed longevity as a growth driver and the island's energy transition and fuel-supply security.
Energy and water fair returns
Exponor will host the fourth ENERH2O in September 2026, on renewables, hydrogen and water management for professionals.
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