The event, organized by the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education (ABAAE) in partnership with the Municipality of Mira, brought together around 200 participants from across the country, including local government officials, technicians, and specialists. The opening session featured speeches by the Mayor of Mira, Artur Fresco, the president of ABAAE, José Archer, the director of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for the Blue Flag, Johann Durand, and the president of Águas do Centro Litoral (AdCL), Filipa Alves.
Artur Fresco highlighted the significance of Mira hosting the seminar, recalling that Praia de Mira is the only Portuguese beach to have received the Blue Flag for 40 consecutive years. He emphasized that this achievement represents the work of mayors, technicians, institutions, and citizens over four decades.
José Archer underscored the unique journey of Praia de Mira and the community's commitment, noting the program's role in beach management, environmental awareness, and biodiversity valorization.
More than a commemorative publication, the book constitutes a record of the collective memory of four decades of work for environmental quality, natural resource preservation, and the valorization of Portuguese beaches.
A notable moment was the launch of the book "40 anos, 40 testemunhos" (40 Years, 40 Testimonies), presented by the Vice-Mayor of Mira, Tiago Cruz. The work compiles contributions from 40 personalities, including President of the Republic, António José Seguro, and Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.
The seminar included a review of the 2025-2026 Blue Flag cycle, certificate awards, and discussions on guidelines for the 2026-2027 cycle and new environmental criteria for 2028.
The event concluded with the sealing of the Arca do Ambiente (Environment Ark), containing over 90 testimonies on the Blue Flag and environmental preservation, to be opened in 2066. The Ark will be exhibited at the Palheiros de Mira.
