LIFE Águeda project recognised for environmental sustainability

The Monitoring Committee of the European URBACT Programme has recognised Águeda's ‘good example in carrying out ecological rehabilitation and restoration work in riverside areas and on the River Águeda, through the LIFE Águeda project.  The LIFE ÁGUEDA project, coordinated by the University of Évora and with technical support from MARE, involves several multidisciplinary teams from Águeda Town Council, the Fluviário de Mora and the Municipality of Mora, Docapesca - Portos e Lotas, S.A. and Aqualogus - Engenharia e Ambiente. 

LIFE Águeda aims to re-establish fluvial continuity in around 34 kilometres of river, with the removal of obstacles to fish movements in the Águeda and Alfusqueiro rivers taking place in 2022, the year in which work also began on the installation of 5 fish transposition devices, commonly referred to as fish passages, in the two rivers.  The Monitoring Committee of the URBACT Programme therefore acknowledged Águeda's ‘good example’ in carrying out the ecological rehabilitation and restoration work on the riverside areas and the River Águeda through this project.

In addition to re-establishing river continuity, work has also been carried out to restore the riparian gallery along 25 kilometres of the Águeda and Alfusqueiro rivers (50 kilometres intervened on both banks). These actions included the control of invasive vegetation (mimosa, acacia, acacia-bastarda, reed, dyer's-bill and wolf's-bill) and reforestation with native vegetation, with densification with the tree and shrub species that characterise the region's riparian woodlands (alder, elder, elm, ash, hazel, gilbarde, oak, holly, hawthorn, hawthorn, lime, black borage; white willow and poplar).

The project is reinforced by the environmental awareness component with actions in schools and the community (involving more than 7600 people), the valorisation of commercially fished anadromous species (shad and lamprey) to promote their sustainable management through the development of a mobile registration post and a seal of origin, the creation of the ‘Fishing in Portugal’ App, aimed at recreational fishing and nationwide, the purchase of an e-CaR (adapted equipment consisting of a wheelchair with a Swiss Trac electric motor), the adaptation of three walking routes and the installation of interpretive panels in the intervention area.

This award is in addition to the recent distinction by Green Destinations, which chose LIFE Águeda as one of the 100 best Green Destination stories, recognising this project as a good practice and a world reference in the area of environmental sustainability. This international organisation considers that the Municipality of Águeda promotes an ‘innovative and effective destination project that works towards more responsible tourism development’.

To find out more about the project click HERE