Module 1: Introduction to Environmental Awareness

Criterion 1 - The Various Physical Patterns and Process Stages of Earth

The origin of life on Earth has been a long-debated issue. There have been many theories as to how life evolved, but Professors Shigenori Maruyama (ELSI, Tokyo Institute of Technology), Ken Kurokawa (Japanese Institute of Genetics), and Dr Toshikazu Ebisuzaki (RIKEN, Wakō near Tokyo) have found a way to narrow the field to a single likely theory.

Coincidentally, on February 7, 1992, the Municipality of Vila do Bispo signed a twinning agreement with the Municipality of Nishinoomote, on the island of Tanegashima, which belongs to the province of Kagoshima in Japan.

The Hadean Bioscience researchers have been able to show that the nuclear geyser is the only theory for the location of first life that fits all nine essential requirements ⇒. The Hadean Bioscience Project has also produced a series of videos in cooperation with LiVE Company Ltd. 'The whole history of the Earth and life' is available on YouTube.

Criterion 1 - The Various Physical Patterns and Process Stages of Earth



Criterion 2 - The Pocesses Essential for the Development of Ecosystems


Criterion 3 - A Wonderful Abundance of Life and Species Richness       

The region’s geographic situation along with the Mediterranean climate with Atlantic Ocean’s influences favor the development of numerous endemic species, especially of flora, and the occurrence of several rare and/or endangered species, making this region of great importance from an ecological and conservationist point of view. Our region has a major climate type of the Köppen classification: characterised by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters and located between about 30° and 45° latitude north and south of the Equator and on the western sides of the continents.

Due to the region’s high natural value and the occurrence of some typical threats to these Mediterranean climate regions (which includes all but the very north of Portugal), such as the increase and transformation of agricultural practices, growing touristic pressure and the presence of invasive alien species, the Southwest Coast is currently under several statutes and diplomas for protection and management of its assets.

Rota Vicentina – Association for the Promotion of Nature Tourism in Costa Alentejana and Vicentina is, since 2013, the entity responsible for the management, integration, stimulation, development and promotion of the pedestrian and cycling trails of the Costa Vicentina, as well as the associated tourist offer the tourist product that Rota Vicentina represents.

  • 750 km to walk along one of the most unspoilt coastlines in Europe
  • More than 1000 km of cycling routes on carefully selected rural and forest paths
  • Nature, Culture and Wellness Activities -Being, designed and guided by the local community.

  • What can I do about climate change? - A Perspective From Our Changing Climate (OCC)

    Brilliant, sponsors of OCC, is an organization created by the efforts of lifelong learners from top educational establishments in the USA, that includes MIT, Caltech, Duke, and the University of Chicago.

    In this Our Changing Climate environmental video essay, OCC look at what you can do about climate change using individual, personal, and collective actions.

    This video, however, is not a simple list of the best things a person can do to change their lifestyle and shrink their carbon footprint, instead it starts by looking at the way in which we’ve globally become fixated on individual solutions to climate change.

    Most of us envision ourselves more as consumers than as citizens. As a result carbon footprint related actions like flying less, zero waste, and recycling are prioritized over voting, protesting peacefully and system change.

    This video is all about doing both personal things to lower your carbon footprint like driving less, but simultaneously acting collectively to create a system in which having a small carbon footprint is feasible for everyone.

    Systemic change and individual change are both necessary to stop climate change.