The Faro District Municipality had previously announced its intention to submit a nomination for the Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) ‘Reserva Natural do Sapal’ to become a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve.

The Castro Marim and VRSA Nature Reserve, in the southeastern Algarve, near the border with Spain, was the first nature reserve to be created in Portugal, in 1975, and is one of the most important wetlands in the country.

In a statement, the municipality explains that, to ensure "the visibility and effective implementation of this plan, it is necessary to secure technical consultancy to guide the application process in line with UNESCO criteria, develop environmental monitoring programs, develop communication and marketing strategies, and acquire equipment."

The application also includes the rehabilitation of a warehouse in the salt pans, the renovation of the ‘Cais de Castro Marim’ infrastructure, and the modernization and updating of the Santo António Revelim Territory Interpretation Centre.

A total investment of €683,599.01 is planned, with an eligible investment of €594,175.47, and a maximum co-financing rate from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of 60% of total eligible expenses, according to the statement.

The main objective of creating the reserve in 1975 was nature conservation, "ensuring the balance of ecosystems, improving the living conditions of resident populations, enhancing traditional activities, and protecting the landscape heritage," the statement reads.

This protected area is located near the mouth of the Guadiana River and covers an area of 2,300 hectares, consisting of salt marshes, brackish water bodies, salt flats, and estuaries that extend across the municipalities of Castro Marim and VRSA.