Guarda embraces biodiversity-friendly public lighting

The SmartEcoLighting project evaluates nighttime lighting solutions with less impact on ecosystems, featuring a pilot in the Rio Diz Urban Park.

Generic image of a street lamp emitting reddish light in a park, with blurred vegetation in the background.
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Generic image of a street lamp emitting reddish light in a park, with blurred vegetation in the background.

The Municipality of Guarda is participating in the innovative SmartEcoLighting project, which aims to evaluate nighttime public lighting solutions with a reduced impact on ecosystems and biodiversity.

This research and innovation initiative is underway with a pilot project in the Parque Urbano do Rio Diz (PURD), where new lighting systems with a more reddish hue have been installed. This technology seeks to mitigate the impacts of artificial lighting on nocturnal ecosystems, contributing to the identification of lighting models that balance safety, energy efficiency, and nature preservation.
Through this participation, the Municipality of Guarda reinforces its commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection, promoting innovative technological solutions for more efficient and sustainable public space management. The municipality thus positions itself as a territory of innovation and environmental best practices.
The project, running until 2027, is being developed by the Center for Research in Electromechanical Systems (CISE), in partnership with the Municipality of Guarda and the Geopark Estrela Association. It also receives support from the Center for Functional Ecology at the University of Coimbra, the Network of Nocturnal Butterfly Stations, and the companies Lightenjin and Globaltronic.
SmartEcoLighting is funded by the PROMOVE Program, promoted by the "la Caixa" Foundation, in collaboration with BPI and the Foundation for Science and Technology, supporting research and development projects aimed at enhancing the value and competitiveness of interior territories.
Based on information from the official source: Município da Guarda (23/10/2026)