Protected areas
The Alentejo has several protected areas, including reserves and natural parks:
Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and the Vicentine Coast
: shared between the Algarve and Alentejo, it protects a particularly wild coastal fringe, made of beaches, dune habitats and steep cliffs. Sanctuary of many birds (including storks, herons and flamingos).Guadiana Valley Natural Park
: home to a great diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, beaches and mountains, and will delight lovers of outdoor activities.Serra de São Mamede Natural Park
: it protects the ecosystems of the eponymous mountains and their rich biodiversity.Lagoas de Santo André and da Sancha Nature Reserve
: this protected area is home to wetlands, including the Santo André and Sancha lagoons, habitats of great floral and faunal diversity (including birds).Serras de Aire and Candeeiros Natural Park
: it protects the ecosystems associated with the mountains of Aire and Candeeiros. The Rio Maior region is also home to the Fonte da Bica salt mines.
The Alentejo is also classified as a "stellar tourism region", due to the quality of its night sky ("dark sky"), free of light pollution (the Alqueva observatory).
A territory subject to the risk of forest fires
Forest fires, increasingly devastating in Portugal, are the result of various factors. These include the choice of tree species, including eucalyptus, a highly flammable species that has been introduced and is increasingly present. The absence of a real forest fire prevention system in the country can also be pointed out, along with an austerity policy that has reduced the number of forestry services and privatized the aerial means (Canadairs). Faced with this situation, initiatives are emerging. One example is the use of pastoralism as a prevention device. Since 2017, scientists and NGOs have been warning about the occurrence of more unpredictable and violent fires. The frequency of occurrence of these extreme events or "mega-fires" is related to climate change.
Climate challenge and energy transition
Portugal took advantage of the 2008 oil crisis to begin its energy transition. At the time, the main aim was to limit dependence on oil. The country therefore implemented a proactive policy based on energy efficiency and the development of renewable energies (wind, solar and hydro). In March 2008, when it was commissioned, the Amareleja power plant was the largest photovoltaic plant in the world. In March 2018 Portugal produced more than 100% "green" electricity for a few days. In other words, the country produced more electricity (from renewable energy) than it consumed. Building on this success, the country has set a goal of achieving 100% of its annual electricity production from renewable energy by 2040. While the country's greenhouse gas emissions fell by 22% between 2005 and 2017, carbon-based energies (notably coal) are still very much a part of the country's energy mix. Another challenge is the use of surplus renewable energy.
