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Pulse

3 October 2026

Good morning. Dolphin calves in the Sado, cameras on the seabed off the Desertas and ancient chestnut groves in the north open today's Pulse, with plenty of good food and small kindnesses to finish.

Nature and biodiversity

Sado Estuary dolphin population grows to 25 with three new calves

The Sado Estuary Natural Reserve marked its 46th anniversary on 1 October by announcing the birth of three bottlenose dolphin calves this year, born to females Moisés, Pirata and Todi between June and August. The resident population, the only one of its kind in mainland Portugal, now numbers 25 dolphins: 12 males, eight females and five not yet identified by sex. As in previous years, the calves' names will be chosen by local primary school pupils, part of an effort to engage young people with the estuary's conservation. The reserve, created in 1980, covers nearly 24,000 hectares across four municipalities.

LisbonEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Ambiente Magazine ↗

National Geographic and ARDITI deploy underwater cameras off Desertas Islands

The research vessel Santa Maria Manuela has arrived at the Desertas Islands, near Madeira, where a National Geographic team and a researcher from ARDITI (Madeira's agency for development and research) have set out to monitor the seabed. They are deploying BRUVs, baited remote underwater video systems, to capture footage of the coastal seafloor around the islands. The equipment allows marine life to be observed without divers disturbing the habitat, supporting ongoing research into the area's biodiversity.

MadeiraEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at JM Madeira ↗

Vinhais seeks UNESCO status for 10,000 ancient chestnut groves

The municipality of Vinhais, in northern Portugal, plans to nominate around 10,000 hectares of centuries-old chestnut groves for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status, aiming to boost the value of the local longal chestnut and encourage new planting. The bid will be prepared with Montesinho Natural Park and submitted early next year. Vinhais will also build an interpretive centre and a nursery to identify the best local chestnut variety for future planting. Chestnut production already generates €15-20 million annually in the area, with groves expanding from 7,000 to 10,000 hectares over the past three or four years despite wildfire and climate pressures.

NorteFood & AgricultureMore on this story →

Chestnut gall wasp threatens Vinhais harvest in parts of county

The chestnut gall wasp is out of control in some areas of Vinhais and could hurt this year's chestnut harvest, according to Arborea association president Abel Pereira. The pest, first detected around Lomba and the villages of Tuizelo, Edral and Vilar Seco, is harder to contain there. Control relies on releasing the parasitoid Torymus sinensis, though this year's effort lost ground compared with the previous two or three years. The harvest, already two weeks late, still shows no visible sanitary problems, but its outcome also depends on weather, which can trigger fungal rot. A good year brings the county between 15 and 20 million euros.

NorteFood & AgricultureRead more at Agroportal ↗

Engineer's lockdown walks led him to Portugal's butterflies

Wilder launches a new series, "Reparar na Natureza", profiling people who notice what others overlook in the natural world. The first instalment features Luís Cardoso, a software engineer from Castelo Branco who discovered wild orchids and butterflies after moving to rural Penela during the Covid pandemic. Using the iNaturalist app and photography, he taught himself to identify species and later created a photographic guide to Penela's butterflies and the Borboletas de Coimbra website. He now organises interpretive walks, arguing Portugal lacks environmental literacy about its own native species.

CentroEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Wilder ↗

Portugal extends biodiversity support scheme for beekeepers

Portugal's Ministry of Agriculture and Sea will open a second call under the PEPAC scheme's beekeeping-for-biodiversity measure, letting around 4,400 beneficiaries with approved applications from the 2024 call extend their commitments by one more year. Applications for the extension run from 9 October to 9 November 2026. The budget allocated is €3.3 million, with support of €735 per beneficiary per year. The measure aims to sustain beekeeping practices that support natural pollination and biodiversity conservation.

Food & AgricultureRead more at Voz do Campo ↗

Needs attention

Bloco leader denounces government conduct over Barroso lithium mine

Bloco de Esquerda coordinator José Manuel Pureza visited Covas do Barroso, in Boticas, calling the lithium mine project run by Savannah Resources 'scandalous' and accusing the government of authoritarian behaviour. He criticised the use of GNR police to secure an administrative servitude linked to the project and said descarbonisation cannot come at the expense of local people. Residents reported feeling under constant surveillance and raised concerns over water scarcity, unauthorised deforestation, and future expropriations. Savannah, which holds a conditional environmental licence from 2023, plans to start construction in 2027. Local association UDCB said opposition to the project continues to grow.

NorteEnergy, Water & MobilityMore on this story → View project: Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso →

Left Bloc presses government over Leça river pollution

The Left Bloc (BE) has formally asked Portugal's Environment Ministry what it is doing to identify sources of pollution in the Leça river, which flows through Santo Tirso, Valongo, Maia and Matosinhos. MP Fabian Figueiredo cites recurring complaints, including an apparent oil discharge near Moreira, Maia, reportedly linked to a car industry plant, and persistent bad smells near Valongo's Leça leisure park and the Ermesinde and Alfena wastewater treatment plants. BE asks whether the ministry confirms the Ermesinde, Parada and Moreira treatment plants as major pollution sources, and what enforcement and monitoring measures are being coordinated with local councils and the environment agency.

NorteEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Observador ↗

Barosa residents demand river works after years of flooding

Residents of the Barosa area, near the confluence of the Lis and Lena rivers in Leiria, are asking the municipal council to urgently clean the rivers and rebuild the dykes to prevent further flooding. Adélia Rodrigues, who lives in Ponte das Mestras, says she has suffered the effects of flooding for years, along with other residents and local businesses. The Leiria council says work is already under way, including the removal of trees that fell during a recent storm.

CentroEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Região de Leiria ↗

Melgaço offers free bulky waste collection service

The municipality of Melgaço, in northern Portugal, is offering residents a free collection service for bulky waste such as old appliances, mattresses and furniture, up to two cubic metres per household. The measure aims to keep the council area cleaner, but authorities say illegal dumping of this type of waste continues to be reported despite the free alternative. Such dumping harms the environment and damages the area's image and quality of life. Illegal disposal is classed as an administrative offence and can lead to substantial fines.

NorteProducts, Consumption & CircularRead more at Alto Minho ↗

Study finds Portuguese care about environment but rarely act on it

A study by Católica-Lisbon SBE's Behavioral Insights Unit finds that 79.5% of Portuguese consumers consider it important that products do not harm the environment, yet this rarely translates into consistent circular-economy habits. The Volta packaging return system illustrates the gap: 82.8% know it well, but 35.5% never use it. Researcher João Paz argues environmental awareness is now widespread but insufficient on its own, as price, convenience and habit still dominate purchasing decisions. He says reducing practical barriers, not raising awareness, is the main challenge, and that past use strongly predicts future use of such systems.

Products, Consumption & CircularMore on this story →

Fuel consumption drops 10.3% in Portugal as prices rise sharply

Portugal's road fuel consumption fell 10.3% in August compared with July, driven mainly by a 14.2% drop in diesel use, according to DGEG data. The decline came as prices kept climbing: diesel rose 6.4% and petrol 1.2% month-on-month, and both are up sharply since February, when the Middle East conflict escalated. The IEA has called the resulting supply disruption the largest in the history of the global oil market. Despite August's fall, 12-month consumption is still up 2%. Fuel prices are expected to drop by about three cents per litre next week, according to ACP and Anarec estimates.

Energy, Water & MobilityRead more at Jornal Económico ↗

Energy, water and circular economy

Portimão port tenders €5.9m shore power system for ships

The Administration of the Ports of Sines and the Algarve has launched a public tender worth €5.9 million to install an Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system at the Port of Portimão. The system will let docked ships connect to the land-based electricity grid instead of running auxiliary engines, cutting fuel use and emissions while in port. The project has EU funding, though the programme and amount were not specified, and works are expected to take about two and a half years. The Port of Lisbon is pursuing a similar OPS strategy to reduce pollution in the Tagus estuary.

AlgarveEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Jornal PT Green ↗

Sines industrial zone moves to set up renewable energy community

The planned Renewable Energy Community for the Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone (ZILS) is moving into its formal setup phase, with companies now defining a business model and rules for sharing energy among themselves. The project is one of three pilots under WESHARE, an EU LIFE-funded initiative that also covers Antwerp, Belgium, and Getafe, Spain. A second session with ZILS clients this week presented draft statutes and internal regulations for the future community, according to manager aicep Global Parques. Sines is separately reviewing its industrial zone's urban plan to accommodate growing demand for industrial, logistics, energy and digital projects.

AlentejoEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Jornal PT Green ↗

LIPOR unveils three new tech tools for waste management

LIPOR, the waste management body for Porto-area municipalities, has developed three technologies under the PRR-funded CircularTech Consortium: an RFID wristband for monitoring operations, built with NEVOA Technologies; the ReCompensa app, which gamifies sustainable citizen choices with rewards such as courses and workshops; and a Conditioned Access system using electronically locked bins reserved for residents. The access system has already started in Vila do Conde, Valongo, Gondomar and Póvoa de Varzim, covering 527 households. LIPOR says the tools aim to improve monitoring, encourage sustainable behaviour and make waste collection smarter.

NorteProducts, Consumption & CircularMore on this story → View project: LIPOR →

Águas do Tejo Atlântico unveils 2026-2028 innovation strategy

Águas do Tejo Atlântico presented a new innovation strategy for 2026-2028 at its Caminho da Inovação event, moving towards a model more integrated with its teams and focused on measurable impact. The company will not launch its usual annual Desafio à Inovação this year, as it reviews past editions and adapts tools to the new approach. The strategy rests on three pillars: strengthening innovation among operational teams, building open collaboration with external partners such as regulators and municipalities, and demonstrating the concrete value innovation creates, covering areas like environmental performance, service quality and operational efficiency.

LisbonEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Ambiente Magazine ↗

Portuguese textile industry demands €10 fee on small parcels

At a European Parliament debate in Brussels, ANIVEC president César Araújo argued the EU's proposed €2 fee on small parcels from non-EU countries is too low, calling instead for €10 per unit. He said such imports, mostly from Asian e-commerce platforms, more than doubled in two years, reaching around 6 billion in 2025, and that higher fees are needed to fund inspection resources and ensure fair competition. The sector also called for a market for recycled fibres, recognition of European recycled materials, and extended producer responsibility to support circularity, warning that without equal rules Europe risks losing industry and jobs rather than emissions.

Products, Consumption & CircularRead more at Jornal PT Green ↗

Bioindustry association urges faster forest management in Portugal

Sara Pereira, representing Biond, the association for Portugal's forest-based bioindustries, argues that active forest management must be accelerated. She situates the issue within a wider set of debates affecting the sector, including wildfire prevention, industrial competitiveness, biodiversity protection, decarbonisation and the valorisation of renewable raw materials. Biond positions itself at the intersection of forestry, industry and land management, advocating coordinated action across these areas to address Portugal's forest challenges.

Ecosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Vida Rural ↗

Policy and public investment

Portugal faces 102 EU infringement cases, a third environmental

Quercus has reported that Portugal currently has 102 active EU infringement procedures, with 36 relating to environment, energy and climate, after Brussels opened three new cases on 25 September over delayed transposition of EU directives on consumer repair rights, hydrogen and decarbonised gas, and industrial emissions. Portugal ranks second among EU states for overall transposition delays and fourth for environmental legislation. The NGO highlights a court ruling ordering Portugal to pay €10 million plus €41,250 daily for failing to designate Natura 2000 conservation zones, and is urging the government to submit transposition proposals quickly and adopt a clearer tracking strategy.

Energy, Water & MobilityRead more at Quercus ↗

PSD Algarve welcomes water and coastal protection investments

Cristóvão Norte, PSD Algarve leader and regional MP, praised newly announced investments in water management, flood prevention and coastal protection for the Algarve. He joined Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho for the presentation, which includes around 46 million euros for Albufeira's drainage plan and 32 million euros for coastal works in Albufeira, Portimão, Faro, Loulé and Lagos. Additional funding targets water loss reduction in municipal networks, drawing on EU and national Environmental Fund money, alongside 43.9 million euros already committed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, plus a further 50 million euros. Norte urged swift execution and adherence to timelines.

AlgarveEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Barlavento ↗

Azores budget earmarks 21 million euros for housing in 2027

The Azores regional government's draft 2027 Plan allocates 21 million euros to build and renovate housing, part of a wider 32-million-euro housing package that also covers rental support and other measures. This follows a 2026 housing budget of over 65 million euros, which relied on EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) funding now ending. The government says it is entering a new phase of direct investment as PRR financing concludes. The draft Plan also sets aside roughly 48 million euros for education, culture and sport, and 80 million euros for health and social economy. Lawmakers will debate and vote on the Plan in November in Horta, Faial.

AzoresConstruction & HousingRead more at Açoriano Oriental ↗

Águeda awards €1.3m contract to upgrade Aguada de Baixo school

Águeda council has awarded a €1.2 million contract to requalify the Aguada de Baixo primary school and kindergarten, with 540 days for the works. The school had once faced closure, but the municipality says it is now investing to secure its future. The project covers a deep refurbishment of the building, including classrooms, sanitary facilities, canteen and kitchen, plus improved accessibility, energy efficiency and renovated outdoor areas. The works are co-financed by the EU's FEDER fund through the Centro 2030 programme, as part of a wider regional school investment plan that also includes projects in Assequins and Travassô.

CentroConstruction & HousingRead more at Diário de Aveiro ↗

Portugal's parliament advances bike and scooter bills, no helmet rule yet

Portugal's parliament approved, in general terms, bills on rules for bicycles and scooters, which now move to committee for detailed discussion and voting. Current rules remain unchanged. Cycling association MUBi warned that some media wrongly reported a new mandatory helmet rule, stressing that general approval does not create new obligations or fines. MUBi opposes universal helmet requirements, citing scientific evidence and possible effects on cycling uptake, and wants to be heard during the committee stage, where the proposals could still be amended before any final vote.

Energy, Water & MobilityRead more at Green Savers ↗

AJAP calls for fairer farmer pay at Beja irrigation congress

At the XI National Irrigation and Drainage Congress in Beja, AJAP director-general Firmino Cordeiro called for better pay for farmers and improved conditions to attract young people to agriculture. Speaking in a debate on generational renewal, he proposed that the price paid to farmers be printed on product labels to increase transparency. Discussion also highlighted that only 11% of PDR and PEPAC-supported projects in the Alentejo involve young farmers, with Beja leading the region and olive growing the dominant activity. Cordeiro urged greater political weight for agriculture and access to Cohesion funds.

AlentejoFood & AgricultureMore on this story → View project: AJAP – Associação dos Jovens Agricultores de Portugal →

Gatherings and learning

Guimarães to host 2028 European Green Capital award ceremony

Guimarães will host, on 8 October, the ceremony announcing the winners of the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf 2028 awards. Porto is among five finalists for Green Capital, alongside Aalborg, Bielsko-Biała, Košice and Zaragoza, while Estarreja is competing for Green Leaf against Benidorm and Chiclana de la Frontera. The event runs from 7 to 9 October and includes candidacy presentations, delegation visits and the opening of a new Parque da Imaginação Musical, created as a legacy project from Guimarães' own 2026 Green Capital title.

NorteCommunity & Social InnovationMore on this story →

Alentejo coastal meeting to debate farming, energy and tourism

A three-day gathering on social and environmental justice takes place this weekend across Grândola and Sines, in Setúbal district, organised by the informal platform "Tirem as Mãos do Litoral Alentejano". The programme, now in its third edition, includes debates on intensive farming, energy projects, mining prospection, property speculation and beach access, alongside guided visits, a documentary premiere and a march through Sines. Events run from Saturday in Melides through Monday in Sines, ending with a plenary of movements and a street demonstration.

AlentejoCommunity & Social InnovationMore on this story →

RuralBeja fair hosts talks on rural life until Monday

The RuralBeja fair is running a discussion programme called À Conversa until Monday, 5 October, featuring talks, conferences and round tables on rural life, farming and local communities. Topics include the Cross Rural project's work on why people choose to stay in rural areas, olive oil and the Mediterranean diet, livestock guardian dogs and predators, extensive livestock farming, and the role of municipalities in the energy transition. The programme was organised by Beja's municipal council together with specialised partners, bringing together experts, producers and institutions to share knowledge about rural territories.

AlentejoEducation & Eco-tourismMore on this story →

Guarda to host world inland tourism congress in November

The Municipal Theatre of Guarda will host the second edition of the World Congress on Inland Tourism on 18-19 November, organised by AITI, the Iberian Association for Inland Tourism. The event brings together more than 45 speakers, experts, institutional representatives and industry professionals from 18 countries. Discussions will focus on the role of tourism in the economic and social development of inland territories.

CentroEducation & Eco-tourismRead more at Notícias de Coimbra ↗

NOVA FCSH launches masterclasses on animals, plants and history

NOVA FCSH, the social sciences and humanities faculty of Lisbon's NOVA University, is launching a new masterclass series called "Estudos sobre Animais e Plantas", exploring how animals and plants have shaped human history rather than serving merely as backdrop. The series is divided into two strands, "Entre Espécies" and "Paisagens Vivas", each with three sessions covering topics such as sea turtle migration, primates, dogs, orange and palm trees, wine-growing and cattle. Open to the general public, sessions run between 15 October and 19 November, in person and online, and can be taken individually or as a full course. Registration closes on 30 September.

LisbonEducation & Eco-tourismRead more at Green Savers ↗

Circuito programme adds workshops and training through October

The Circuito programme in Braga has announced a varied October schedule combining art, science and technology for different audiences. Highlights include a BMA lab led by artist Olga Kisseleva on 10 October, a children's workshop on botanical stickers on 17 October, and Experimentation Workshops for primary pupils between 28 and 30 October. On 31 October, a teacher training session on creative coding with p5.js takes place alongside the first guided tours of the gnration exhibitions MANKURTS and Matéria Escura Digital.

NorteEducation & Eco-tourismRead more at Diário do Minho ↗

Sociedade Ponto Verde offers free recycling training for teachers

Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV) will offer a free online course on packaging recycling for teachers and educators during the 2026/2027 school year, part of its Academia Ponto Verde programme launched in 2019. The announcement coincides with Teachers' Day on 5 October. The academy reached over 38,000 students nationwide in 2025/2026, and SPV aims to expand this to 50,000 students next year, a roughly 36% increase. Interested teachers can register via email. CEO Ana Trigo Morais highlighted teachers' role in shaping how children understand and engage with environmental issues.

Education & Eco-tourismMore on this story → View project: Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV) →

Local flavours

Beja à Mesa food programme runs at RuralBeja until 5 October

The Beja à Mesa gastronomy programme is taking place at the RuralBeja fair, held at the Parque de Feiras e Exposições until Monday, 5 October. The initiative brings together chefs, restaurants, producers and guests to showcase Alentejo flavours and the region's Mediterranean food culture through live cooking sessions, tastings and pairings. Regional products are highlighted, including DOP cheeses paired with Baixo Alentejo wines, Ourique ham, olive oil, campaniço lamb, seafood and Beja's convent sweets, alongside wines from the Azores, Ribera del Guadiana and Setúbal. Live music performances accompany the food events throughout the fair.

AlentejoFood & AgricultureRead more at Rádio Pax ↗

Moura restaurants hold honey-themed gastronomic weekend

The Moura municipal council is holding a Gastronomic Weekend themed "Mel e Aromas da Planície" (Honey and Aromas of the Plain) this Saturday and Sunday. Participating restaurants will add dishes inspired by local honey and regional products to their menus. The initiative aims to promote traditional cuisine and local produce, reinforcing the "Moura Terra Mãe do Azeite do Alentejo" brand and attracting visitors. It forms part of the council's wider territorial promotion strategy and is funded by the Alentejo 2030 Regional Programme, under the local development plan for the Guadiana left-bank bioregion.

AlentejoFood & AgricultureRead more at Rádio Pax ↗

Azores Food Lab returns with focus on local identity

The third edition of Azores Food Lab, formerly Week Food Lab, runs from 26 to 31 October at the Pavilhão do Mar in Ponta Delgada. Organised by AVEA, the event combines a conference on Atlantic gastronomy, chef-led dinners and public cooking classes. Guest chefs from Porto, Lisbon, New York and Quebec will take part, alongside sommeliers and a local produce immersion programme. AVEA president Eládio Braga said this year's theme centres on identity, tradition and authenticity, while flagging logistics and long-term sustainability as the event's main organisational challenges.

AzoresEducation & Eco-tourismRead more at Açoriano Oriental ↗

Lagos launches October restaurant week with 26 eateries

A new gastronomic event has launched in Lagos, in the Algarve, running throughout October. It brings together 26 local restaurants, each offering dishes designed to be shared by groups of up to four people. The initiative aims to showcase the town's food scene over the course of the month.

AlgarveFood & AgricultureRead more at The Portugal News ↗

Small wonders, close to home

Students and fishermen build giant lobster pot to collect plastic in Fuseta

A giant fishing pot designed to collect plastic waste gathered from the coast was inaugurated on 29 September in Fuseta's riverside area. Pupils from the EB2/3 and Secundário Dr. João Lúcio school worked alongside local fishermen on the project, from technical design to covering the structure, as part of the Escola Azul programme. The initiative began the previous school year, when the children were in year 5, and involved lessons in Visual and Technological Education to plan the pot's scale and structure. The project also aimed to pass traditional fishing knowledge between generations and preserve Fuseta's cultural heritage.

AlgarveProducts, Consumption & CircularMore on this story →

Olhão hosts fourth FÉRTIL festival this weekend

The fourth edition of the FÉRTIL festival takes place on 3 and 4 October in Olhão, at the new venue of Parque Ribeirinho Poente beside the Ria Formosa. Co-produced by the MOCES association and Olhão's municipal council, the free event is structured around four themes: environment, community, culture and innovation. The programme includes concerts, talks, workshops, a family area, a wellness zone, a creative market and food stalls favouring sustainable practices. Organisers are replacing reusable plastic cups with clay cups bearing the festival's seal, also inviting attendees to bring their own.

AlgarveEducation & Eco-tourismMore on this story →

Toyota opens bee and honey centre at Gaia headquarters

Toyota has opened a Bee and Honey Interpretation Centre at its Bosque Ser Caetano site in Vila Nova de Gaia, following the first honey harvest from five hives installed there in 2025. The two-storey, honeycomb-shaped building displays beekeeping equipment and interactive content, and will host workshops, staff activities and school visits. The hives were set up to mark 20 years of Toyota's reforestation programme, which has carried out over 40 tree-planting actions across Portugal. Proceeds from the limited honey harvest will go to social solidarity causes.

NorteEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Green Savers ↗

Beja hosts free walking event for national INATEL Longevidade+ gathering

Beja will host a free three-kilometre walk this Saturday, 3 October, as part of the national INATEL Longevidade+ event, held alongside the RuralBeja fair. The walk starts at the Parque de Merendas, near the Complexo Desportivo Fernando Mamede, and finishes at RuralBeja's exhibition centre. Check-in runs from 9am to 9:45am, with departure at 10am and arrival expected around 11am. Registration remains open. The event, aimed especially at people aged 55 and over, promotes active and healthy ageing through activities covering health, wellbeing, culture and community participation.

AlentejoHealth & WellbeingRead more at Rádio Pax ↗

Injured terrapin rescued from stream in Funchal

Madeira's volunteer fire brigade rescued a terrapin from a stream on Travessa Costa Dias, in Funchal's Imaculado Coração de Maria area, after an alert at 15:55. Three rescue team members responded to retrieve the animal, which had a crack in its shell near the belly. The terrapin was subsequently handed over to the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), which will monitor its condition.

MadeiraEcosystems & BiodiversityMore on this story → View project: IFCN – Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza, IP-RAM →
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