Community United in Clean-up Actions in Lagos
As part of SEIVA 2024 – Environmental Education and Volunteering Week, promoted by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) through ARH Algarve, the municipality of Lagos organized activities that brought together volunteers and organizations, totalling 260 participants.
As a result of these efforts, over 3.2 tons of ice plants were removed from Meia Praia, and approximately 1.3 tons of waste were collected across the municipality.
Held annually in the Algarve as part of the Environmental Volunteering for Water project’s partner network, SEIVA aims to raise awareness and engage communities in environmental education and awareness actions.
Lagos re-joined the initiative with three activities in October:
- an awareness session for controlling invasive plants; a clean-up and invasive plant removal action (ice plant/carpobrotus edulis) at Meia Praia;
- a clean-up across various locations in the municipality (Estrada da Meia Praia, Ponta da Piedade, Vale da Lama/Odiáxere, Rua da Calheta/Luz;
- the National Forest of Barão de São João) as part of the “Lagos + Environment” project. All activities were conducted under the strictest safety conditions for participants.
Community involvement, along with support from associations and both public and private entities, remains essential for these activities.
This year, the municipality benefited greatly from the collaboration of Júlio Dantas Secondary School and Technopolis School students and teachers, participants in the “Recognizing and Mastering Intercultural Challenges” and “Be Sustainable” Erasmus+ Youth Program projects, APA, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra/School of Agriculture, the Transnational LIFE STOP Cortaderia Project, SOMAR Association, Ecoambiente company, local parish councils, ALGAR, Lagos Hunting Club, Lagos Cycling Club, Lagos Forest Firefighters, Le Copains de Lagos Association, Italiani in Algarve Association, municipal staff, and community volunteers who joined the cause.
With impressive results from the 8th SEIVA edition—including the removal of invasive plants and waste—the municipality now plans additional clean-up efforts. These initiatives aim to educate and inspire environmentally conscious citizens, encouraging them to actively contribute to the planet’s sustainability.
