The initiative, led by the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA), represents an investment of over €600 thousand and will span approximately 10 kilometres between Alvarães and Castelo de Neiva.

The intervention will involve the parishes of São Romão de Neiva in Viana do Castelo, and Forjães and Antas in the municipality of Esposende, in the Braga District. According to Manuel Salgueiro, president of the São Romão de Neiva Parish Council. The project will launch officially on 20 May.

The programme aims to clean and ecologically restore the riverbanks, recover natural and built heritage, and introduce sustainable recreational pathways in close collaboration with local communities. The APA will oversee the technical and environmental coordination of the project, working with the involved municipalities and other stakeholders.

This initiative is grounded in a model of shared governance, encouraging co-responsibility among municipalities, parish councils, and public bodies. The goal is to improve the area’s ecological resilience and adapt to climate change, while promoting balanced land use.

Prepared by the environmental consultancy E:RIO, the project includes stabilisation of riverbanks, removal of invasive species, clearing of debris, planting of native species, and natural engineering solutions. Selective pruning and reuse of organic material will further support ecological balance and slope stabilisation.

Ultimately, the project seeks to enhance the ecological, hydrological, and landscape functions of the river system, contributing to sustainable adaptation of the region in the face of climate change.