The Algarve region hosted the final conference in the “Earth Observation for Municipalities” series on May 8, at the University of Algarve’s Gambelas Campus in Faro. This event, organized by the Portuguese Space Agency, concluded a two-year national tour that has engaged approximately 400 participants across six regions.

The conference placed special emphasis on coastal zones and marine environments, tailoring content to the Algarve’s specific environmental challenges. In each location, the Portuguese Space Agency personalized discussion topics to regional contexts, with the Algarve agenda focusing more heavily on water resources and coastal zone management, featuring practical application examples.

The AIR Centre played a significant role by conducting a consultation exercise during the event as part of the Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP). This initiative aimed to gather the needs and priorities of national coastal users, investigate the use of Copernicus data nationally, share results at the European level, and support the evolution of Copernicus coastal services.

This conference series, which previously visited Guimarães, Pampilhosa da Serra, Funchal, Angra do Heroísmo, and Évora, has successfully raised awareness about Earth Observation tools while identifying local needs across Portugal’s diverse regions.