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In the forthcoming years Portugal expects to be an increasingly hot and dry country dealing with the risk of water scarcity. According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere data, annual precipitation values have decreased 20 mm/decade. On the other hand, it is also verified that the periods of rain occur in a shorter interval, although more intensively. Water scarcity is one of the major challenges reflected in the UN 6th Sustainable Development Goal. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), as places of responsibility in preparing future leaders, must have strong sustainability policies, namely through the implementation of water efficiency measures on their campi. The main aim of this work was to evaluate water consumption and the good practices that the different HEIs have implemented on their campi to improve and promote green and sustainable behaviors, and to calculate water efficiency indicators associated with each HEI. The data were collected through a survey completed by eight HEIs distributed throughout the country. The results show that some institutions have already been implementing measures for water efficiency and have developed some activities with the academic and surrounding community. The range of values calculated for the indicators is large and there is not a strong correlation between them. Per capita consumption values vary between 1.8 and 23.5 L/(person·day), the differences being explained mostly by campus characteristics, namely: green areas; water sources for irrigation; age of buildings; and the existence of facilities on campus such as residences and sports facilities. Nevertheless, the consumption per capita values are generally lower than those found in the literature for equivalent institutions. Given the growing concern with water scarcity, sharing this kind of information among institutions may contribute to improving water efficiency 7211-5AB5-5A23 | Ivo Araujo N/A

Due to the negative effects of its main inflows, the water quality of Roxo stream, located in southern Portugal, an area characterized by Mediterranean climate, is degraded, causing consequences in irrigated agricultural activity. The eco technology of floating beds was used to improve the quality of this water. Three Vetiver zizinioides floating beds (3.3 m2/unit; density 40.5 plants/m2) were placed on the Roxo stream in May 2020 and the water quality was monitored until December 2020 in two places: at the floating beds location and 100 m higher up in the stream. The load mass was calculated for both sampling points and the removal rate for each parameter was monitored. The average removal rates obtained were: (i) TN = 33%; (ii) TP = 43%; (iii) COD = 44%; and (iv) Cl- = 15%. The DO level increased slightly, and the pH remained neutral. Although the water quality improved, the quality was still not high enough to be able to use the water for irrigation and to achieve good ecological status. Keywords: Roxo stream, surface water quality, real scale, floating beds, Vetiver zizinioides

Higher Education Institutions have an important role in the promotion of sustainability. The sustainability has been seen not only as a component of education, research and innovation, but also as a social learning process within and beyond academia. The adherence of the four schools that belongs to IPBeja, to the Eco-Schools Program allows the environmental analysis of each. The present work intends to contribute to the creation of the Eco Green Campus in to Polytechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja). Environmental audits were carried out on the four Schools and in the IPBeja common services facilities. The results shows that it is necessary to implement some measures in order to IPBeja become an Eco Green Campus, involving all academic community: improvement of resource management; reduction of waste and effluent production; waste recovery; reduction of water and energy consumption; use of renewable energy; promotion of sustainable mobility and adoption of sustainable public procurement. It was proposed a concept of an Eco Green Campus, the IPBeja Environmental Policy and Environmental Best Practices Guide, oriented for decision-makers and for the entire academic community. The creation of an Eco Green Campus is simultaneously a challenge and an opportunity to contribute and promote the Circular Economy.

Nowadays, being a teacher is a matter of being focused on learning rather than teaching in a classical point of view. With so much and so good information available and easily accessible, the figure of the "self made man" can even lose meaning once it is easier to learn outside school. School as institution must be equated as a space to promote learning and motivation to learn which is often absent. In order to respond to the necessary shift paradigm school faces resulting from a different way of life in a very recent past, the use of technology proves to be a powerful ally, ensuring student's ability to respond to technical and scientific questions as well as creating an environment of trust and security since, for example the mobile phone, is a tool of permanent use in the student’s life. Even “the extent of change caused by recent and unexpected events like Brexit (Britain's departure from the European Union) will be insignificant compared to the impact of an avalanche of technological change that can reshape the very essence of humanity and life in the our planet” (Leonhard, 2017). And if, as Leonhard (2017) says, the mega changes we are confronted with will re-draw trade, culture and society, biology and ethics, what shall we say about school still working in a model created in the nineteenth century? And considering that we are at a critical turning point in technological evolution and where change seems irreversible, what new challenges does the teacher also face in this field? The aim of this work is to think about how technologies can have or not a role on motivation to learning and academic success. As teachers, we defend we must adjust methodology so it can serve learning. Same methods and technics may prove to be excellent or lousy according to multiple and various factors. We often think we have the best class ever prepared, able to impress all students and this just does not happen. Why? What mechanisms can make an activity be remarkable and impactful?The methodology used in the classes is diversified and according to the goal, participative techniques of active learning, simply active listening, informal dialogue, apps or a quick research on google, in all of them technologies are welcome. Even so, sometimes it seems to not be enough. Results from different sorts of conversation with students (interview, focus group and small questionnaire) shows the mobile phone is the most requested in class and even for research, it is preferred in deterring the computer. Technology (eg some apps for identification of wildlife species) can also make no sense to the student if the contents are not pleasant for students but in general, answers show us that technology helps students to feel confident since it doesn’t expose individual (un)knowledge, to learn with pleasure, to create group dynamics and in general, to create happy moments that increase motivation and improve learning and knowledge.Our lessons learned tell us that today students lack meaning, they need to give meaning to their existences. And of course, technology can be exploited for this, not just in a content-oriented sence but existential sense, without the two together, everything will remain inadequate.

The aim of this work was to determine the potential of phytoremediation of Vetiveria zizanioides and Oryza sativa to nitrate (NO3−-N) and organic matter (COD – chemical oxygen demand) removal in subsurface vertical flow constructed wetland systems (VFCWs). The tests were carried out in models of 2 beds with a surface of 0.24 m2 and depth 0.70 m each at various hydraulic loads (HL) and COD constant in influente wastewater. The VFCW-1 bed was planted with the Vetiveria zizanioides and the VFCW-2 bed with the Oryza sativa. During the 22 weeks of research, the hydraulic load of the analyzed beds was: HL1 = 148 dm3·m−2·d−1, HL2 = 239 dm3·m−2·d−1, HL3 = 350 dm3·m−2·d−1, HL4 = 473 dm3·m−2·d−1. The VFCWs were fed from two reservoirs, one with mineral medium and nitrate, and the other one with fructose as organic matter. Based on the conducted tests, it was found that in both analyzed systems (VFCW-1 and VFCW-2) the highest NO3−-N removal rate was found under HL2 – the median is 59 and 42% respectively. The most effective removal of COD in the VFCW-1 system was obtained at a HL2 – 55%, while in the system VFCW-2 at a HL1 – 43%. The research shows that the low HL and high COD/NO3−-N ratio ensures good effects of nitrate and organic matter removal in VF type constructed wetland systems. It has been shown that the analyzed plants, especially Vetiveria zizanioides have good phytoremediation potential in the field of nitrate nitrogen and organic substance removal and can be recommended for use on a full scale of technology.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the nitrogen removal and its effects on the plant’s growth and leaves morphology. using two subsurface vertical flow (VF bed), with different depths (0.24 m2 × 0.70 m; 0.24 m2 × 0.35 m) and nitrogen load increments. The VF bed were planted with Vetiveria zizanioides, filled with light expanded clay aggregates (Leca®NR 10/20) and fed in parallel mode with synthetic wastewater. High ammonium nitrogen concentration ([NH4 +–N] from 68 ± 3 to 290 ± 8 mg L−1) was used without toxicity symptoms in plants, although the effects of ammonium nitrogen load were stopped the growth of the plants. Significant differences between ammonium nitrogen removed in each VF bed obtained for total nitrogen (TNinfl.) ≥ 27 ± 0.8 g m−2 d−1. The nitrification was contributed to ammonium nitrogen removal because was found higher values of nitrate and nitrite in the effluent. These values were more higher in VF bed 1 than in the VF bed 2, since ammonium nitrogen removal were also more higher in VF bed 1 than in the VF bed 2. Total nitrogen mass balance was carried out and the results show that the nitrification/denitrification process occurred with nitrogen plants uptake. It was observed that the VF bed depth has an influence on all nitrogen removal processes. As higher the depth root system it is seemed to favour the creation of zones with different oxidations conditions that allow the nitrogen compounds to be removed intensively.

Due to its high land productivity, irrigated agriculture has an increasing role in food production. In the Alentejo region (southern Portugal) the irrigated area has grown since the completion of the Alqueva dam in 2002. Climatic change patterns foreseen for the Mediterranean region (more heat extremes, less precipitation and river flow, increasing risk of droughts and decrease in crop yields) are prone to soil salinization and sodification in irrigated areas in the region. The Roxo dam has some of the higher records of water salinity and sodicity in Portugal, which makes the Roxo irrigated area (RIA) a very interesting case study. This paper aimed at two main objectives for the RIA: (i) evaluate soil salinization and sodification, and make spatial predictions of soils susceptibility to these degradation types; (ii) monitor current salinity and sodicity of the water, and simulate the effect of empirical based scenarios of water salinity and sodicity. The RIA (8250 ha) extends ~20 km along the Roxo river (northern Aljustrel), in Cenozoic sedimentary formations. Main soils mapped are: Luvisols (~40%), Fluvisols and Regosols (~20%), Gleysols and Planosols (~20%) and Vertisols (~10%). However, there are only five soil profiles with detailed analytical data from a more recent soil survey with 83 profile descriptions in the RIA and surrounding area. Irrigation water of the Roxo dam and drainage water of the Roxo river were monitored almost monthly during Jul/2014-Nov/2015 and Jun/2016-Jan/2017, for determination of electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and other parameters. Soil salinity was not a significant problem in the RIA but a potential abundance of sodic soils was found that need future confirmation. A qualitative soil salinity index applied to the RIA suggests that soils most susceptible to salinity occur to a much smaller extent when this index is obtained from the soil profile data (approach B) than when it is based on information of the soil map (approach A). During the monitoring periods, both the water of the Roxo dam and of the Roxo river were slight to moderate saline for crop growth, with no restrictions for soil infiltration. The Roxo dam received water from the Alqueva dam for the first time between June and September 2016, and a small, though regular, decrease of the water EC (0.99 to 0.76 dS m-1) was observed during the same period. Three scenarios of irrigation water, identified by Low/High EC-SAR (L-L, H-H, L-H) were simulated with the Watsuit model. Low EC water (L-L and L-H) represent wet years and show no risk of soil salinity in the rootzone. However, the risk of waterlogging increases in sodic soils, especially with the scenario (L-H). High EC water (H-H) represents dryer years and results in severe saline conditions in the rootzone. In all three scenarios, prosodic and sodic soils are most sensible to degradation by salinization, sodification or both.

Nowadays society water represents both, an opportunity and a threat, the greatest strength and the greatest wealth of society. Water is the key for conservation and environmental management. Different tools support sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. A possible way is to implement active and collaborative public participation, a key mechanism that effectively makes possible the implementation of what legislation requires. This paper intends to illustrate two processes developed in Portugal that have contributed to the management of “water”, with the integration of the participatory dimension: (1) the analysis of an active public participation process that took place within the scope of the MARGov Project-Collaborative Governance of Marine Protected Areas. This will contribute to bring up better knowledge of such processes while guaranteeing the articulation among stakeholders in a collaborative way with increasing gains for long-term co-management. Results indicate that active public participation contributes to societal change that passes through the valorization of the knowledge of each citizen, a relevant contribution for governance models design providing added value for the natural systems; (2) Ardila river basin searching for definition of rehabilitation proposals for water quality improvement from a cross-sectional perspective. Results revealed the lack of institutionalized tradition of participation and the need to reinforce the information and qualification of stakeholders, through the adoption of participative methodologies in the processes. Both cases will allow the authors to reflect the role of active participation to the societal transformation and its contribution to better forms of water governance.

Alentejo is a region of Portugal located in the south of the country and the main economic activity is agriculture. In Alentejo the precipitation is very irregular. The problem of droughts often occurs. The Alqueva reservoir is the biggest reservoir in Europe and provides water for more than 120,000 hectares for agriculture. Before the use of the reservoir, the main agricultural products were cereals. Now farmers grow vegetables and they make an intensive culture of olive trees and almond trees. The Roxo reservoir is one of those will receive water from Alqueva in 2016. The increase of water in quantitative and qualitative terms can provide very significant increases in the growth of the soil production that we must monetize in the best way. The aim of this study was evaluate the quality of water resulting from the monitoring carried out during 2014/2015 in the hydraulic system and in the drainage network of the irrigation perimeter of Roxo's reservoir to be made a more sustainable management of irrigated area. The main conclusions were as follows: i) the water of the irrigation channel and drainage network show a mil to moderate degree of salinity risk; ii) doesn t show characteristics to modify the soil infiltration conditions; iii) indicates degree of restriction slight to moderate due to the amounts of Na+ and Cl-; iv) the drainage network presents toxicity due the chlorides and boron; v) the ammonia nitrogen and nitrate values were low. The application of nitrogenous fertilizers seems to influence the results.

Neste artigo partimos de uma contextualização a nível global, alertando para a crise ambiental instalada e propondo uma reflexão profunda sobre os fundamentos do saber e o sentido da vida que devem orientar escolhas para a humanidade. Introduzimos a teoria da complexidade como uma via para a transformação dos valores, referindo igualmente a necessidade de uma mudança nos domínios emocionais, para a formação de cidadãos empenhados na construção de culturas em que o amor e a aceitação do Outro sejam alicerces para uma sociedade sustentável. Após contextualização apresentamos o panorama da Educação Ambiental em Portugal, fazendo uma cronologia sumária de acontecimentos que relatam o despertar da consciência ambiental. Complementarmente abordamos alguns resultados de ações/projetos representativos da situação atual. Com isto, procurámos sublinhar: (i) o estado da Educação Ambiental em escolas de diferentes graus de ensino; (ii) a participação de atores sociais na gestão de bacias hidrográficas, através do caso de estudo de uma bacia; (iii) e ações piloto de carácter interdisciplinar, utilizando a arte como veículo de comunicação. Terminamos com algumas reflexões do estado atual da Educação Ambiental, realçando as principais dificuldades e desafios.

The Alentejo local pig breed is currently the Portuguese autochthonous swine breed with the highest livestock number and breeding population in the country. According to the statistical data of the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary (2017) among the swine breeds: Alentejana, Bisara and Malhado de Alcobaca, it is verified that the Alentejana shows a livestock population superior to the others. Thus, in this work on the generic biodiversity theme, we present only a brief review of the historical evolution from the registration of the pattern of the Alentejana local pig breed (1959) until today. A brief description is also given of the “mamilada variety” that was recently inscribed in the Genealogical Book of the Swine Alentejo Pattern. This variety was the subject of a recovery study during the 21st century, and the reproductive goodness of the Alentejano Mamilado boar genotype was confirmed. Since the 16th century, the biodiversity of these Portuguese and Spanish autochthonous breeds constitute the Iberian trunk of Mediterranean pigs.

O programa Eco-escolas tem vindo a ser reconhecido pelo potencial que as eco-escolas representam no caminho para uma educação ambiental orientada para a sustentabilidade. Temos verificado que a adesão tem vindo a aumentar, bem como o número de atividades incluídas no programa. Espera-se que, iniciando-se na sala de aula, as actividades se expandam a toda a escola e possam vir a promover a mudança na comunidade em geral. Na Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Beja (ESA/IPBEJA) as atividades têm sido desenvolvidas nos diferentes eixos que o programa contempla, sendo a conservação da Biodiversidade e o esforço para a Diminuição da utilização dos plásticos dois temas desenvolvidos no âmbito de duas unidades curriculares das formações em Agronomia e em Tecnologia dos alimentos. Relativamente à Biodiversidade, vamos dar continuidade a alguns trabalhos que temos vindo a desenvolver em sala de aula, acreditando ser possível divulgar e envolver toda a comunidade no sentido de (i) avaliar o estado dos espaços verdes do Campus do IPBeja, com base em bioindicadores e (ii) monitorizar a fauna auxiliar das culturas do Centro Hortofrutícola. Pretende-se promover a conservação dessas espécies e divulgar todo o seu contributo para a limitação natural das pragas existentes nestas culturas. Com relação à Diminuição da utilização dos plásticos no âmbito da Tecnologia dos alimentos, procura-se o desenvolvimento de trabalhos pelos alunos que visam a criação de novas embalagens biodegradáveis (bioplásticos e comestíveis) que substituam as plásticas existentes no mercado. Para além do trabalho dos conteúdos das Unidades Curriculares, estas atividades permitem sensibilizar para as problemáticas ambientais que integram o programa Eco-escolas beneficiando a comunidade local e a sociedade em geral. Assim, elas são antes de mais, atividades de Educação Ambiental.

O Alentejo confronta-se com alteração da paisagem sobre os recursos naturais resultantes da alteração do uso de solo devido à maior disponibilidade de água proveniente da construção do Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos do Alqueva (EFMA) em 2002. A Directiva Quadro da Água [DQA] transposta para Portugal (LA) tem como fim proteger as massas de água, estabelecendo objectivos ambientais. Os planos de gestão para as regiões hidrográficas deverão integrar um programa de medidas que permitam alcançar os objectivos definidos, sendo a participação pública um dos requisitos. Neste trabalho é estudada a bacia hidrográfica do rio Ardila com o objectivo de conhecer percepções e opiniões dos actores sociais, actividades desenvolvidas e alterações dos usos de solo. Para o efeito, efectuou-se: pesquisa documental e empírica para identificar os potenciais impactes no rio Ardila e afluentes; inquérito com questionário base para saber a visão dos diferentes intervenientes e identificar os principais problemas da qualidade da água no rio; questionários específicos por actividade desenvolvida. Os resultados contribuem para a definição de estratégias sustentáveis com vista a: diminuição de conflitos por falta de informação; conhecimento local sobre as questões ambientais; maior participação na tomada de decisões. Pretende-se assim, contribuir para o sucesso de implementação da DQA através do cumprimento dos objectivos ambientais estabelecidos no plano de gestão para a região hidrográfica do Guadiana.