Portimão marked World Wetlands Day with environmental actions in Alvor
World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on 2 February, was marked in the municipality of Portimão to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands’ natural, cultural, social and economic values.
The municipality has two important wetlands, the Arade estuary and the Ria de Alvor. The latter was designated in 1996 as a Ramsar Site (Sítio Ramsar) – Site of International Ecological Importance, by the Portuguese government under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
In addition to being an important resting and feeding place for countless species of birds, the area is also a breeding and growth habitat for aquatic species, many of which have high economic value for the local community. Wetlands act as water quality purifiers and cushion the impact of floods or sea storms on terrestrial areas.
In this context, a coastal clean-up was carried out in the Ria de Alvor and a photo walk was organised on the morning of 1 February. Teia d`Impulsos organised this action as part of the ‘Arade Azul’ project, with the support of EMARP and the Portimão municipality.
On the mornings of 4 and 5 February, Portimão City Council also promoted the removal of the chorão-das-praias, or Carpobrotus edulis. This invasive creeping subshrub has very fleshy leaves and large pink or yellow flowers, which smothers native species. Four 7th-grade classes from the Bemposta School Group took part in clearing the plant from the sand dunes.
Since 2017, in conjunction with this group, annual actions have been carried out in the Alvor dune system, in the area included in the Natura 2000 Network, with a view to removing this exotic plant with infesting behaviour, which is one of the main environmental threats associated with habitat degradation.
The results of these annual actions have been very positive. However, it is necessary to continue monitoring and removing the patches that persist or try to re-establish themselves.
