Digital Knowledge System

Centro Region

Portugal

The central west coast of Portugal features diverse landscapes, including coastal wetlands classified under the Ramsar Convention and the Natura 2000 network. Its strategic location has supported a range of economic, cultural, and recreational activities, particularly in tourism, fisheries, and maritime industries. However, the combined impacts of these activities and climate change exert multiple pressures on natural habitats, including coastal erosion. In this DEMO, theA-AAGORA project will:

(i) Promote decarbonization by partially replacing fossil fuels with advanced waste-based fuels to support sustainable tourism activities and reduce GHG emissions in small port areas;

(ii) Develop innovative remote sensing tools to monitor coastal erosion and provide forecasting and real-time services accessible via web applications for coastal communities;

(iii) Apply Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) to enhance climate resilience, safeguard biodiversity, and mitigate anthropogenic pressures by deploying nature-based artificial substrate units for biodiversity restoration.

Drone view of a preserved sand dune system along the Portuguese coastline, showcasing nature-based solutions for coastal erosion and habitat conservation.

Resilience to coastal erosion for people and nature

Coastal erosion, real-time services, beach and sand restoration and conservation. Establish a monitoring and anticipatory system for climate-event response that integrates/coordinates the management of interconnected ecosystems.

Aerial view of a busy Portuguese container port with cargo ships and cranes in Centro Region, highlighting maritime logistics and the need for green port infrastructure in Portugal

Climate change mitigation via decarbonization and restoration

Technological development of a platform to calculate climate balance/neutrality at territorial level using a dual approach: decarbonization of human activities and blue carbon sequestration. 

Underwater oyster nursery cage and fish near marine structure in Portugal, promoting marine biodiversity restoration and habitat regeneration along Portuguese coastal waters

Nurseries in ports for biodiversity restoration

Repurpose sea-port infrastructure. Mitigate anthropogenic pressures and enhance biodiversity through the re-naturalization of grey infrastructure by combining passive and active recruitment technologies.

Young person sorting marine litter indoors, during a workshop for marine pollution reduction and behavioral change to protect Portugal’s ocean and coastal ecosystems.

Reduction of marine litter through behavioural change

Marine litter, behavioral change, and ocean literacy. Development of ocean literacy materials for children (e.g., books and mini games) and a program with ocean literacy actions to be implemented in schools (co-developed with teachers).

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