An annual world-wide competition is held by the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) to raise funds for projects that not only promote biodiversity, but also contribute to the preservation of natural spaces for residents and visitors alike.
This year one of the five projects to be included in the final vote, within the Oceans category, is Ria Formosa – a designated Natural Park located in the area of Faro and over which flights from Europe and further afield pass.
Put forward by the Algarvean Association for the Study and Conservation of Oceans (AECO), the wetlands have an area of over 18,000 hectares offering shelter to hundreds of birds during their migration and, of course, home to both land and water fauna.
AECO campaigners carry out annual clean-ups on the barrier islands and with pressure from visitors and also local commercial activities constant intervention is required. AECO say that “… this year will be no exception, regardless of the outcome of the vote. Our goal in participating in this contest was to extend the clean-up that will happen in July, both on land and at sea. With this funding we could also carry out an underwater clean-up. We need professional divers to remove old anchors, old fishing gear or other debris that has accumulated inside the Ria Formosa estuary”.
The association also wants to take advantage of the technical support offered by the Algarve University to monitor the seahorse community in the wetlands which, unfortunately, seem to be in decline.
To vote in support of this project click here. Voting ends on April 11, at 12pm.
For information on the EOCA’s Plastic Free: Mountain to Sea project click here.
