13/10/2026  |  Coastal protection involves different natural processes in different places. At Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of  Europe, within Sintra–Cascais Natural Park,  our study visit focused on a rocky coastal environment with steep cliffs, strong Atlantic wave action, significant geological features and habitats adapted to exposed conditions.

Unlike dune restoration at Dunas da Cresmina, the key considerations here include managing visitor pressure, avoiding damage to sensitive vegetation and habitats, and monitoring cliff erosion and stability.

For Guardians of the Coasts, the site provided an opportunity to compare distinct coastal ecosystems and understand why management measures must respond to local ecological conditions while taking safe and responsible public access into account.

The visit took place within the Guardians of the Coasts project, in cooperation between Fotoessa and Aequalitas. More information: https://guardiansofthecoasts.info/

Our beaches. A common good. A shared responsibility. A common future.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.