Good morning. Today's Pulse looks at the marks fire has left on Trás-os-Montes vineyards, at water going off in several towns this week, and at the quieter work of drones, drop-off points and garden fairs.
A fire that began in Valpaços and spread to Mirandela, Vinhais and Macedo de Cavaleiros destroyed vineyards, olive groves and almond trees just before harvest. Quinta do Sobreiró de Cima estimates a preliminary loss of around one million euros and a 50% drop in wine production, and the municipality has asked the Government to declare a state of calamity.
Between 3 and 9 August, several areas of mainland Portugal and Madeira face interruptions to the water supply for maintenance work and burst repairs. Olhão and Silves have official notices, while Moura will be without water across the whole town for a day; suppliers advise storing water in advance.
Infraestruturas de Portugal recorded over 140 collisions with wild ungulates in 2025, against fewer than 20 a year until 2015. A joint project by the University of Aveiro and the ICNF, presented at a seminar in Lousã, is studying these populations to reduce risks to road safety and to farming.
Researchers at the CIIC, in Leiria, have added a smart docking station to their DBoidS system, recharging and relaunching drones so forest surveillance never stops. The system, which combines drones, artificial intelligence and digital twins, is being validated with the GNR's Leiria Territorial Command.
The Government has opened the first funding calls under the Mobility and Transport Fund, worth almost two million euros, for urban logistics, school mobility and decarbonising the taxi sector. The fund totals 14.8 million euros, with further calls planned for rail freight, urban mobility plans, bus stops and national ticketing.
The second edition of the 'Desperdício Zero, Impacto Duplo' campaign runs until the end of September, inviting people in Leiria, Caldas da Rainha and Alcobaça to drop used batteries and bulbs at their local Refood centre. ERP Portugal will handle the recycling, and Orima is offering new refrigeration equipment to the centres that collect the most.
The Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal brings its Autumn Garden Fair to the FATACIL showground in Lagoa on 17 and 18 October, with over 70 exhibitors and specialist growers. The focus is on water-conscious planting suited to a Mediterranean climate, alongside talks, demonstrations, food and crafts.
A study by Fundação EDP and The Equator Company finds that Portuguese people aged 18 to 25 take climate change seriously and are willing to change habits, but place the main responsibility on government and institutions rather than individuals. Economic barriers, a lack of concrete solutions and a debate seen as polarised are cited as obstacles.
Madeira's certification as a sustainable tourism destination has drawn criticism from Socialist deputy Sílvia Sousa Silva, who argues it rests on selective indicators and questions waste management, bathing water quality and the audit methodology. The Regional Government defends the process and its international recognition, while the opposition asks for an assessment of tourism's real impact on residents.
A short read every morning — what's happening across sustainable Portugal.
