Teachers from the Barlavento International Primary School participated in the visit, exploring the Cape St. Vincent area for a morning with their students. The students, aged 7 to 11 years old, observed the of ​​Cape St. Vincent natural landscape and learned several details about the local flora. For many of them, it was the first time they have seen male and female plants of white crowberry species -Corema album (L.) D. Don- an Iberian endemic species as it only occurs in Portugal and Spain.

They also learned that this species female plants bear small edible white fruits, between april and november, known in Portuguese as ‘camarinhas’. The students also learned how invasive plants are a threat to endemic plant species in coastal areas. In surveys completed after the visit, students reported enjoying discovering new plants—such as the white crowberry- and experiencing their scents. This was another initiative organised by the Emc2 project; which by fostering a deep youngsters’ connection to nature, can develop in them a sense of place and an emotional engagement that are essential components of meaningful childhood learning.

In today’s world, characterised by young people’s disconnection from nature and a decline in botany education, educational systems must be able to spark a passion for nature in youth. This passion encourages them to better understand and protect the natural world, ultimately leading them to act for biodiversity -a crucial step during the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). We must motivate young people for nature conservation through projects based in action, hope, and cooperation.

As an example of such cooperation, the Emc2 project has invited as Biodiversity Ambassadors (from the sports world) two windsurfers - Margarida Gil Morais and João Rodrigues. Since July 2025, they have been helping to raise awareness about coastal ecosystem and their endemic plants conservation, such as the white crowberry. This project will develop more field trips in the Algarve and other Portuguese mainland coastal zones, as well as in some Azores islands where the Corema album ssp. azoricum is part of local flora.

The future of botany education will benefit from nature-based learning and a methodology that fosters collaboration with civil society organizations, to help develop a sense of collective responsibility for biodiversity.

Emc2 Project is funded by national funds provided by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Portugal), through the projects UID/04292/2025 and UID/PRR/4292/2025 granted to MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, and the project LA/P/0069/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0069/2020) granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET - Aquatic Research Network.