Parques de Sintra Joins International Spring Monitoring Network to Strengthen Water Resource Conservation

Parques de Sintra has joined the SentinelSprings network of sampling sites, a European research project that aims to transform natural springs into early warning systems for monitoring and protecting groundwater and aquatic ecosystems in the face of increasing pressures from climate change and human activity.

Funded by the Water4All Partnership – Water Security for the Planet, co-funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme, the project runs from 2025 to 2028 and brings together partners from six European countries: Portugal, which is leading the scientific coordination of the initiative, Malta, Denmark, Poland, France and Italy.

As part of this collaboration, the spring at the Monserrate Hunting Grounds has become part of the SentinelSprings international monitoring network, contributing to a shared hydrological and ecological database that will enhance scientific knowledge of groundwater resources and the ecosystems they support. Between 2026 and 2028, up to two annual sampling campaigns are planned, including hydrochemical analyses and the study of various biological groups, such as macroinvertebrates and macrophytes. These surveys will enable the results obtained at Monserrate to be compared with those collected at the other living laboratories across Europe.

The unique environmental characteristics of the Tapada de Monserrate spring will provide valuable data to this international network, contributing to a better understanding of spring biodiversity and supporting the development of monitoring and management models that can be adapted to different ecological contexts. The project also seeks to support evidence-based policymaking and promote more sustainable water resource management, strengthening ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.

According to João Sousa Rego, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Parques de Sintra, "Parques de Sintra's participation in SentinelSprings represents an opportunity to place the natural heritage of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Sintra at the service of science and innovation, contributing to the generation of knowledge with international impact. The project is an excellent reflection of the company's strategic objectives for 2026–2028 by promoting the safeguarding of UNESCO World Heritage, strengthening climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, encouraging innovative solutions for the sustainable management of natural resources, and consolidating partnerships with the scientific community for the benefit of the territory."

In addition to its scientific component, SentinelSprings adopts a collaborative approach, engaging local communities and citizens in spring conservation through a network of living laboratories established across the participating countries. In doing so, the project aims to raise awareness of the importance of these ecosystems, promote the sustainable use of water resources, and help ensure water availability and biodiversity conservation for future generations.