Between 7 and 11 July, Madeira was the scene of the first use in Europe of the Mamba drone, developed by the Canadian company Outreach Robotics, capable of harvesting plants on inaccessible cliffs. The operation was conducted by the Botany Group of the University of Madeira, in collaboration with the Madeira Operational Command and …
In 2024, the Autonomous Region of Madeira reached a significant milestone in waste management: over 80% of municipal waste was directed to energy recovery, while only 1.5% was sent to landfill – a figure well below the national average.
According to the Annual Municipal Waste Report (RARU), prepared by the Regional Directorate for Environment and …
Porto Santo beach, well-known for its vast sandy beach and touristic value, is naturally recovering the sand lost in previous years. Since 2017, the Regional Directorate for Environment and the Sea (DRAM) has been developing a project that uses photo-monitoring techniques to collect regular data on the evolution of the beach and coastal ecosystems. …
In 2025, Madeira reinforced its position as a sustainable tourist destination, with 78 tourism establishments awarded the international Green Key certification, more than tripling the 25 units recognised in 2015. Of the current awardees, nine applied for the programme for the first time, and three rejoined, highlighting the growing engagement of Madeira’s hotel sector …
Since 2020, the Regional Directorate for Environment and the Sea (DRAM), through its Environmental Inspection Division, has been implementing an innovative awareness plan in Madeira’s vehicle maintenance and repair workshops. The initiative aims to promote best practices in hazardous waste management and to combat illegal discharges of substances such as used oils, filters, and …
The Regional Government of Madeira, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture and the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), has launched a new campaign for forest fire prevention. Under the motto “A safe forest depends on all of us”, the initiative aims to protect human lives, safeguard environmental assets, and …
The Portuguese Museology Association (APOM) has granted three awards to museums in Madeira, recognising their efforts in preserving and promoting the region’s cultural heritage. The Madeira Ethnographic Museum received the “Partnership” award for the community project “Onde a Lã Vive”, and the corresponding temporary exhibition received an honorable mention. Additionally, the Colombo Museum in …
On 28 June 2025, the new Funchal Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETAR), located in the Lazareto Valley, was inaugurated. This €12.7 million investment represents the largest project ever undertaken by the municipality and is a key infrastructure for meeting European environmental standards and improving the city’s environmental quality.The project involved the construction of a 46-metre-deep …
The Regional Secretariat for Inclusion, Employment and Youth, through the Directorate for Citizenship and Social Affairs (DRAS), will make available the ‘Tourist Consumer Guide’, a practical digital resource that provides essential information on the rights and duties of tourists visiting the Autonomous Region of Madeira.Part of the ‘Madeira — Capital of Sustainable Tourism’ project, …
From 2 to 7 June, Funchal hosted another edition of Environment Week, organised by the city council, with most of the activities taking place in the Praça do Município. The event aimed to raise awareness among the population to the protection of ecosystems and promote local environmental action, reinforcing the city’s commitment to environmental, …
