On 25 September, National Sustainability Day is observed in Portugal, highlighting the importance of integrating environmental, social and economic dimensions in building a more resilient future. Established in Portugal by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 56/2023, the date coincides with the adoption by the United Nations of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
At CESAM, sustainability is a cross-cutting dimension of research on environmental and marine systems. From biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources to climate change adaptation, the circular economy and the development of solutions aimed at reducing the impacts of human activities, CESAM’s research seeks to understand the relationships between natural systems and society and to translate scientific knowledge into responses to concrete challenges.
This approach is particularly reflected in the Socio-Ecological Systems and Resources Thematic Line (TL3), which focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources, biodiversity conservation and the resilience of socio-ecological systems. Research in this area brings together different CESAM Research Clusters, particularly Ecosystem Management and Conservation (RC4) and Circular Economy, Resource Optimisation and Energy (RC6), reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of sustainability-related challenges.
Among the projects putting this research into practice is BioProtect — Advancing Area-based Management Tools to Accelerate the Protection and Restoration of Marine Biodiversity across the European Sea Basins, funded by the Horizon Europe programme. The project develops tools to support spatial management and marine biodiversity protection, contributing to ecosystem management that takes into account pressures arising from human activities and to the restoration of biodiversity across European sea basins.
The ProAqua+ — Development of Multifunctional Materials for Biofilters in Aquaculture: Setting New Standards for Quality and Sustainability project also reflects the search for more resource-efficient solutions. The project investigates new materials for biofilters used in recirculating aquaculture systems, in which water is continuously reused, with the aim of improving contaminant removal while contributing to more sustainable production, organism health and seafood quality.
These projects exemplify research that combines fundamental and applied knowledge to support ecosystem conservation, promote more efficient resource use and contribute to evidence-based decision-making.
By marking National Sustainability Day, CESAM reaffirms its commitment to transdisciplinary, rigorous and socially relevant science, capable of contributing to more resilient societies and ecosystems and to the responsible use of natural resources.