Cadernos de Geografia

Estrutura fundiária e custos de implementação das faixas e mosaicos de gestão de combustíveis: um estudo em 11 municípios do Centro e Norte de Portugal

Ernesto Deus, Catarina Frade, Joaquim Sande Silva

As faixas e mosaicos de gestão de combustíveis (FGC) são áreas delimitadas em instrumentos de planeamento de nível municipal, nos quais é programada a gestão de combustíveis no âmbito da prevenção e combate a incêndios. Apesar da sua importância, a concretização desta medida enfrenta constrangimentos pouco conhecidos, como a extensão das FGC, os recursos necessários à sua execução, a pequena dimensão dos prédios rústicos e o desconhecimento dos seus titulares. Este estudo analisou estes aspetos em 11 municípios com elevada perigosidade de incêndio rural nas regiões Centro e Norte de Portugal. A estrutura fundiária e o progresso do cadastro rústico foram analisados através de informação disponibilizada pelo Balcão Único do Prédio (BUPi). As FGC abrangem, em média, 4.845 ha (±3.058 ha) por município. Os proprietários privados são responsáveis pela gestão de mais de metade da área total em FGC. No final de 2024, o BUPi cobria cerca de um terço dos diferentes tipos de FGC. Nas FGC predomina o minifúndio, com maior fragmentação ao redor de aglomerados populacionais. Uma estimativa conservadora revela um custo médio de 1,09 (±0,92) milhões de euros e de 8.970 (±7.535) jornas de trabalho por município para realizar a gestão, uma única vez, nas FGC. Os resultados deste estudo evidenciam a complexidade e os desafios de implementar esta medida, reforçando a necessidade de maior racionalização na gestão e de adoção de estratégias mais sustentáveis, atentando na realidade fundiária e socioeconómica destas áreas.

Integrated analysis of social vulnerability and water quality in an urban context

João Ribeiro

This study presents an investigation that integrated a sociological analysis of the conditions in which the population of São Carlos (Brazil) finds itself in relation to environmental issues, along with an analytical study on the quality of water that supplies some neighborhoods of the city, seeking links between social vulnerability and the quality of services that serve these regions in relation to water, carrying out physicochemical tests, such as pH, alkalinity, and chlorine content. The main results showed that the populations residing in the most peripheral neighborhoods of the city are precisely those that present the lowest water quality indicators and that suffer the most from its scarcity, concluding, therefore, that a more comprehensive approach to this population is necessary on the part of public policies, since they are more susceptible to environmental risks and also those associated with water quality.

Engaging secondary education in Geography:

Ricardo Almendra

Urban heat islands are a major challenge in the current context of climate change, intensifying heat exposure and related health risks. This paper presents a school-based research project that engages secondary school students in the study of UHIs using Earth Observation data and Geographic Information Systems within a Problem-Based Learning framework. The project was implemented between 2022 and 2026 in several European cities (Jena, Coimbra, Iași, and Turku) under the European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) alliance. Students analyzed satellite-derived land surface temperature data, land use/land cover information to identify local UHIs, examine their spatial distribution and impacts, and relate heat exposure to urban form and vulnerable populations. Through hands-on GIS analysis, hypothesis-driven inquiry, and collaborative discussion, students developed data literacy, spatial thinking, and critical problem-solving skills. Despite the technical complexity the experience shows that secondary school students can successfully engage with geospatial methods when supported by structured pedagogical guidance and university–school collaboration. The project’s adaptability across different institutional and cultural contexts highlights its scalability and its potential to integrate geospatial technologies, climate adaptation, and urban drivers into secondary geography education.

Geografia(s) da Saudade: testemunho vivido e homenagem do grupo de GeoFísica à Professora Maria Assunção Araújo

Paulo Manuel Costa Lemos

Le port d’Agadir entre dynamisme économique et contraintes urbaines

El Mati Ouarmassi

This article examines the relationship between the port of Agadir and its urban territory, highlighting the complex interactions between economy, urbanization, and planning. The port serves as a central hub for regional activity, structuring commercial exchanges and fishing-related industries, while generating employment and productive dynamics. However, its development is constrained by the physical configuration of the site, the saturation of transport routes, and the lack of buffer zones, creating tensions between port operations and urban functions. The study relies on field observations and critical analysis of planning documents to identify structural constraints and the institutional responses implemented. The findings show that port economic dynamics are closely linked to urban transformations, and that future competitiveness will depend on integrated governance and improved coordination among stakeholders to ensure a balance between logistical efficiency, urban quality, and sustainable development.