The recent kayak and ecoplogging walk initiative, part of the preparations for this milestone year, is another concrete example of the municipality's efforts to build a greener, more sustainable and participatory territory.
During the European Mobility Week 2025, the Águeda city council organised another edition of this initiative, combining environmental awareness, sustainable mobility and active citizenship. In partnership with the Associação Juvenil Hugo Costa, the event gathered around 60 volunteers who navigated the Águeda River and collected 42 kilogrammes of waste, directly contributing to cleaning and preserving local ecosystems.
More than just a leisure activity, this initiative symbolises the municipality’s commitment to involving the community in its environmental policies. Throughout the year, similar initiatives have led to the removal of over 110 kilogrammes of waste from the municipality's rivers and riverbanks, thanks to the involvement of around 250 green ambassadors.
As recognition for the participants’ dedication, the municipality gifted each volunteer a recycling kit and a medal, symbolising the importance of extending good environmental practices into everyday life.
This action is part of Águeda's broader sustainability strategy. Major projects such as LIFE Águeda and LIFE Revive (soon to begin) have contributed to the renaturalisation of the Águeda and Alfusqueiro rivers, the ecological restoration of habitats and the control of invasive species, thereby promoting biodiversity and enhancing the environmental value of riverbanks.
Recently, the Municipality secured EUR 10.2 million in funding for the redevelopment of the riverbanks and the Pateira de Fermentelos – a crucial project for dredging and improving water quality, reinforcing the balance between ecological preservation and tourism enhancement.
