The Government will invest 20.2 million euros (ME) in priority works to protect the coast, namely to stabilize cliffs – which stands out the cliff of D. Ana, in Lagos – protect coastal infrastructure and reinforce the most vulnerable beaches, the Ministry of the Environment announced this Friday.
In a note, the Ministry of Environment and Energy highlighted that 13.9 ME will be supported through the 2030 Cohesion/Sustainable Fund, which approved the financing of 12 applications for coastal protection and defense interventions, “which combine advanced engineering with nature-based solutions, promoting climate adaptation and sustainable coastal management”.
To the amount financed by the 2030 Sustainable Operational Program, there are around 6.3 million euros guaranteed by the State Budget.
According to the Government, “these projects represent a significant milestone in combating coastal erosion, adapting to climate change and promoting sustainable solutions for the protection of the Portuguese coastline” and were “designed to guarantee the protection of people and goods, preserve natural heritage and increase the resilience of local communities”.
Among the approved interventions, the following stand out: and the cliffs between Praia da Bafureira and Parede, in Cascais, in addition to the renaturalization of the Ancão Peninsula, in the Algarve, through the removal of illegal constructions and the reinforcement of dune systems with native vegetation.
In the North zone, the rehabilitation of coastal structures is planned, such as the structural rehabilitation of the coastal wall at Praia de Lavadores, in Vila Nova de Gaia, “guaranteeing protection against the advance of the sea”.
The rehabilitation of coastal spurs in Ofir (Braga) and Paramos (Espinho) will be financed, improving “resistance to climate change”.
In Ovar, environmental impact studies and execution are planned to protect critical areas such as Esmoriz and Furadouro, promoting “sustainable engineering solutions”.
A cost-benefit analysis study will also be carried out to develop a project to protect the erosion slope of the Estela dune range (Póvoa de Varzim).
In the West zone, approval has been given to the preparation of execution projects to stabilize slopes on the beaches of Légua and Pedra do Ouro, in Alcobaça, and the preliminary study and execution project to minimize the risk of cliffs and slopes on Praia da Calada, in Mafra.
For the district of Setúbal, the artificial feeding of sand on the beaches of Costa da Caparica and S. João da Caparica was approved, reinforcing coastal resilience in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, as well as the desilting of the Albufeira Lagoon, improving the circulation of waters, and the replacement of natural systems and minimization of risk in Praia da California and Portinho da Arrábida.
Quoted in the note, the Minister of the Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, maintained that “protection of the coast is a national priority for the Government”, which wants “a more resilient coastline and prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change”.
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