Lagos submitted an application for the ECOXXI environmental award and subsequently brought home the 2019 Green Flag, as well as the top score ever obtained in this sustainability ranking (70.21 points).
Lagos was one of the four Algarve municipalities that submitted an application. It also obtained the best sustainability index at regional level; this year’s competition had 53 municipalities competing at national level.
The indicators that measure Lagos against so many others were those related to “Implementation of the Blue Flag programme”, “Information available to residents”, “Management systems certification”, “Classified areas” with regard to nature conservation and “Sustainable tourism”.
Lagos also submitted the Coastal Requalification concerning works carried out in Ponta da Piedade. This area is a natural monument and also a unique tourist resource with regard to its natural and historical importance.
For 2020, Lagos council is planning a set of actions to embody the new challenges set by the ECOXXI Programme, namely Eco-employees. The idea being to provide environmental education and sensitisation actions directed, specifically, at municipal workers, protective measures to reverse erosion together with compaction and waterproofing, soil removal and contamination trends and a new standard where adoption strategies, the existence of action plans and the level of implementation of these measures can be assessed.
During 2020 the council will continue with two projects in partnership with local schools; “The Sea Starts Here” and “Council Action for Climate Action.
The ECOXXI programme is an initiative of the European Blue Flag Association which seeks to encourage and recognise the growing concern of decision makers with regard to their policies concerning sustainability and quality of life in their regions.
Image: ©Dicklyon