Between 7 and 11 May, Sagres was once again chosen to host the second edition of the Marine Forest Festival. With science, conservation and education as its pillars, the event aimed to make the local community aware of the region's unique biodiversity and to celebrate the knowledge gained from the indispensable partnerships between institutions and local communities.
Marine forests, made up of seagrass, algae and coral, play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through their ability to absorb carbon dioxide. "CCMAR and the University of the Algarve have been working in the Sagres area for many years and we think it's important to show the Sagres community (and beyond) what we're doing to protect and understand these marine ecosystems, especially given the great integration of local communities," explained Estér, the event's organiser and a CCMAR researcher.
One of the most notable collaborations has been with the fishermen of Sagres, who accidentally catch corals during their fishing activities and hand them over to Márcio's team, who in turn use the contribution to carry out research on various fronts, such as trying to identify where there are the most corals, what are the best techniques for returning these corals to the wild, how to help them reproduce, and trying to understand how they have evolved over the years. Rute Silva, Mayor of Vila do Bispo, stressed the importance of this collaboration for fishermen to "feel recognised and understand how they can contribute in their daily lives to the protection of the sea - which is so important to them". The Mayor also congratulated the festival on its existence and stressed its importance, not only in showcasing research, but also for the local community and visitors.
The community, including children and young people, actively participated in the event, showing interest and enthusiasm for marine conservation. Participants had the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities, from lectures and boat trips to algae collection and identification. The fair, with its dynamic activities and local seaweed-based products, also helped to raise public awareness of the practical applications of this marine biodiversity.
The success of the “Festival de Florestas Marinhas” reinforces the desire to continue promoting similar events in the future, with the aim of increasing awareness and collaboration in favour of the conservation of marine ecosystems. With the joint commitment of the community and researchers, Sagres continues to establish itself as a bastion of marine biodiversity.
The event was organised by the University of the Algarve (UAlg), the Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) and the Vila do Bispo Municipality and is part of the programme “PRR impulsos Jovem e Adulto FOSTEAM@SOUTH”, with the support of the Junta de Freguesia de Sagres, Docapesca and Finisterra.
