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A recent study conducted by DBio/CESAM in collaboration with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) presented relevant findings regarding the population of stray animals in Continental Portugal. The first National Census of Stray Animals reveals that there are over 930 thousand animals without homes, of which 830,541 are cats and 101,015 are dogs. The census, funded by the Environmental Fund, not only quantified the population of stray animals but also investigated the attitudes and perceptions of the Portuguese population towards these animals, as well as strategies to control and reduce their populations.

The results highlight significant disparities between cats and dogs in terms of owner responsibility. While the majority of dog owners demonstrate high levels of responsible ownership, including identification and registration of animals, as well as adequate supervision of outdoor access, cat owners show lower levels of responsibility, with a considerable proportion allowing their cats outdoor access unsupervised. Sterilization emerged as the predominant method of population control for cats, while a significant portion of dog owners do not utilize contraceptive methods for their animals.

The study also reveals a correlation between lower family incomes and a more pronounced presence of stray animals, suggesting that economic difficulties may be a limiting factor for responsible ownership practices.

Additionally, 334 vulnerable wild species susceptible to predation by cats and dogs were identified, highlighting the impact of these stray animals on wildlife. The study emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among civil society about the issue of stray animals and underscores the need for effective strategies for their management.

In response to the census results, ICNF adjusted the National Strategy for Stray Animals, emphasizing the importance of responsible ownership and professional training in the areas of animal welfare assessment.

This study represents a significant milestone in understanding and addressing the challenges associated with stray animals in Continental Portugal and highlights the urgent need for coordinated actions to mitigate this complex problem.

For further details, please click here.

(Text by: Tânia Barros)

A study conducted by researchers from CESAM has revealed that rewilding efforts in the Greater Côa Valley, Portugal, are facilitating the return of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) to the region, beneficial for the Iberian wolf and local producers. The Rewilding Portugal team has been working to support the recovery of the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) population south of the Douro River, where the lack of natural prey has caused conflicts with local producers. The program includes measures to promote the return of roe deer, which can help reduce wolf predation on livestock. Research shows an increase in the roe deer population in areas where rewilding measures have been implemented. Creating ponds, recovering burned areas, and clearing bushes are some of the measures taken to restore roe deer habitat.

The study indicates that roe deer are migrating to the north and west of the Greater Côa Valley, and future efforts should focus on expanding the species to the west. The reintroduction of other species of wild prey, such as deer and wild goats, is also being considered to reduce wolf predation on livestock.

In the future, the teams from CESAM and Rewilding Portugal will continue to monitor the roe deer in the rewilding areas distributed throughout the landscape of the Greater Côa Valley. This monitoring will also be an integral part of the LIFE LUPI LYNX project, coordinated by researcher Rita Torres from CESAM/DBIO, which will be launched to support the recovery of Iberian lynx and wolf populations south of the Douro River in Portugal and Spain.

For more details, read the original article here.

(Text by: Tânia Barros; Image: Staffan Widstrand, Rewilding Europe)

Two of the three University of Aveiro (UA) projects selected for the 2nd edition of the Institutional Pact for the Enhancement of the Circular Economy in the Centre region are from CESAM.

InsectERA was highlighted for contributing to various circular economy strategies, for having a very significant number of partners from the industry sector, for still being in progress in June 2025 (the end of the 2nd edition of the Pact) and for having very clearly identified the identifiers and targets to be achieved at the end of this edition.

A-AAGORA project will identify synergies in line with the Atlantic-Arctic ‘lighthouse’ context, promoting a process of deliberative democracy and complementing other priority areas within the EC Mission by establishing a Community of Practice and developing a digital knowledge system, emphasizing nature-based solutions.

The CCDRC is launching the second edition of the Institutional Pact for the Valorisation of the Circular Economy (Pact) following the strong support obtained during the first edition of this initiative. Part of the Centre’s Regional Circular Economy Agenda, the Pact is aimed at all public and private entities operating in the Centre Region.

The 2nd edition of the Pact came into force on 15 July 2023 and ends on 30 June 2025.

Read more about InsectERA here and A-AAGORA here.

More about the Institutional Pact for the Valorization of the Circular Economy in the Central region here.

The journey took less than an hour, when almost 6 miles, the precious cargo that the Nereide, a CESAM vessel, was carrying was returned to the ocean. After months of recovery, five common turtles (Caretta caretta) returned to smell the sea and continued their journey in the blue vastness, which had been interrupted months before.

The five loggerhead turtles were admitted to the animal rehabilitation center at Ecomare (CRAM-ECOMARE) between September 2023 and March this year.

Some were found on the coast, others delivered by fishermen between the areas of Aveiro and Peniche. Storms, sea disturbances and accidental capture in fishing gear were the causes that made it impossible for these reptiles to continue their oceanic journey. Some required longer recovery periods due to pneumonia and flipper injuries, but the dedication and experience of CRAM biologists, veterinarians and technicians allowed these extraordinary animals to have a second opportunity to venture into the great ocean.

Visit CRAM-Ecomare here.

From June onwards, passengers traveling to and from the Americas (Brazil, United States, Canada and Venezuela) and Africa (Luanda, Maputo and São Tomé) will have at their disposal a choice of the best national films, selected from the award-winning 2023 edition of the ART&TUR Festival, held in October in Caldas da Rainha. Among the films selected to be shown on TAP long-haul flights is the documentary “Cegonha Branca – Between the church and the cliff”, which is in partnership with CESAM and was produced by PlaySolutions Audiovisuais.

See the news here.

You can watch the documentary here.

(Text by: Joaquim Pedro Ferreira)

On April 11th, the group of CESAM doctoral students (GED-CESAM) organized a visit to ECOMARE, with the participation of the Ovar Sul School Group, coordinated by Professors Vítor Ferreira and Rui Polónia. Led by members of GED-CESAM and PhD students from Dbio, Davide Silva and Ruben Silva, the initiative also included a presentation of work carried out at ECOMARE by 5 PhD students from CESAM (Daniela Rodrigues, Diana Lopes, Joana Fernandes, Lamara Cavalcante and Madalena Missionário).
The visit was attended by 105 students from the 9th, aged between 14 and 15 years old.

Yesterday, at the Renato Araújo Auditorium in the University of Aveiro, the UA Awards Ceremony took place. There were 37 works in competition, of which 13 were awarded prizes. Célia Alves, researcher at the Department of Environment and Planning (DAO) and CESAM, was distinguished in the category – Researcher with Honorable Mention in Science. In this category, candidates were evaluated by a renowned jury from other institutions outside the UA, which analyzed the publications, projects and funding obtained, in the last 5 years, by the researchers in the competition. The Researcher Award aims to highlight the work carried out in the area of research carried out at the University and recognize, annually, the merit of the Researcher or Research Team whose work has stood out, at national and/or international level”.

See more here.

The booklet “Economic, social and cultural value of sardines”, a collaboration between IPMA and CESAM, was published. The booklet, a separate publication from IPMA, succinctly describes the state of the Iberian sardine stock, its production, the fleet and number of fishermen involved, the evolution of the associated canning industry as well as its social and economic importance for Portugal. This booklet was created within the scope of the SARDINHA2020 project (https://sardinha2020.ipma.pt/) and is available here.

Ana Lillebø, researcher of CESAM and scientific coordinator of A-AAGORA, presented this Atlantic-Arctic EU Mission project at the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference, in the session “Building a Strong Scientific Community in Support of a Sustainable Atlantic Ocean.”.

This event, held on 11 April (13:15 – 14:45) at the Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), focused on the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) and its mission to improve marine research and cooperation across the Atlantic-Arctic ocean basin, in line with global initiatives such as the UN Ocean Decade.

The presentation highlighted A-AAGORA’s contribution to cooperative, solution-based ocean science, which aims to ensure a healthy and sustainable ocean for future generations.

The 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference took place on 10-12 April 2024, in Barcelona. Hosted by Spain and co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO) in its role as the coordinating agency of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), the conference brought together the Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate achievements and set joint priorities for the future of the Decade.