Lagos distinguished as the “bluest” municipality

Within the scope of the Blue Flag Programme, the municipality of Lagos has been distinguished as the “Município Mais Azul” (“The Bluest Municipality”).

The award results from the recognition for excellent performance in environmental education activities, carried out under the Blue Flag 2020 Programme. This award is given to the municipality of each region that obtains the best score in environmental education activities, and the evaluation was carried out by the Portuguese Environment Agency and the National Coordination of the Blue Flag Programme.

The Lagos municipality applied to the Blue Flag Programme with a total of 13 environmental education activities, of which five of the activities initially presented were reformulated to adapt to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The performance of at least six environmental education activities is one of the mandatory criteria of the Blue Flag Programme. Even with all the changes to which they were subjected, it was possible to carry out the activities in compliance with the mandatory typologies of the programme: information and environmental awareness; passive participation; active participation and multiplier effects.

According to Lagos Council: “This distinction is the recognition of the effort made by the municipality to protect the environment, with a growing concern to involve the whole community”.

In recent months, several environmental campaigns were developed, such as the Digital Photography Contest launched during the bathing season, with a theme proposed by the Blue Flag: “Back to the Sea with Attitude to Change” and which registered the largest participation, with 50 competitors from various points of the national territory and from different countries, in total of 107 photos were in the contest. Also, the awareness and environmental education campaigns “Zero Beatas” or “Lagos na Onda do Verão”. As part of the celebrations of World Environment Day, the didactic application for the youngsters, the game “Super Ique in Defense of the Environment”, was also launched.

Praia da Dona Ana was also distinguished with the certificate of international coordination for its 15 consecutive years with the Blue Flag.