… As a responsible thriving renewables Company, we are increasing efforts in awareness. Not just for our solutions, but our local and regional environment. We’re focussing on coastal waters in the Algarve…

… best known is the Ria Formosa, designated a National Park in 1987, covering around 18,000 hectares which is protected by the sea, five islands and two peninsulas. It is a unique coastal lagoon which is constantly changing due to currents, tides and wind.

There are many different habitats – marshes, tidal flats, islets, dunes, saltpans, freshwater lagoons, including agricultural zones and woodlands. All are home to an impressive diversity of flora and fauna. Known also for being a birders paradise, and a winter stop-over point between Africa and Europe, it provides cover for the Balearic sparrow and rare Purple Swamphen (the symbol for the national park).

Ria Formosa is also home to the endangered chameleon, and hosts what was, (in 2018), the largest population of seahorses in the world, and its fabulous shellfish.

But there are challenges in maintaining this fragile eco-system… the old problem of plastic consumption from tourists. Also illegal housing, dumping of debris on the salt-flats, untreated sewage, dredging, sand-mining. And unlawful fishing and seahorse capture. Plus the disturbing of habitat, wading and snorkelling into zones that are prohibited, and tramping seagrass meadows.

Help Algarve tourism and the Ria Formosa by taking licensed excursions, ensuring you get to see the best of the national park, protecting the fragile habitat in the process.

Check in again next week for the fourth article in the “Going Green” series…