Applications for the 2025 edition of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation Award – Conservation, Restoration and Monitoring of Biodiversity in Portugal are open from 1 to 30 April 2025. This award is the result of a collaboration between the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation (FBA), aiming to support outstanding scientific projects that make a significant contribution to the conservation, ecological restoration, and monitoring of biodiversity in Portugal.
By promoting the application of scientific knowledge in the service of nature conservation, the award has recognised projects of high technical and scientific quality, presenting innovative approaches supported by robust methodologies and with real impact on national territory. This recognition is particularly relevant in a context of increasing pressure on ecosystems, where science plays a crucial role in shaping effective strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss. By supporting projects with a strong applied component, the award contributes to the integration of scientific knowledge into decision-making, fostering collaboration between researchers, managers, and policymakers. Moreover, it highlights research carried out in Portugal and promotes its internationalisation, positioning the country at the forefront of global conservation efforts.
In the 2023 edition, first place was awarded to the project “CCforBio – Ecological Corridors in Forest Plantations: Benefits for Biodiversity, Timber Production and Carbon Sequestration”, led by Bruna Raquel Figueiredo Oliveira, a researcher at CESAM/DAO, University of Aveiro. This project proposes the implementation of conservation corridors in forest landscapes, reconciling ecological and economic objectives by simultaneously promoting biodiversity, sustainable timber production, and carbon sequestration. With funding of €207,698, the project stands out for its integrative approach and relevance to the multifunctional management of forest ecosystems in Portugal.
The awarding of this prize to the researcher further strengthened CESAM’s recognition in the fields of biodiversity and sustainability. In addition to acknowledging scientific merit, this award enhances the practical application of research and increases the visibility of science produced in Portugal within the European and international context.