The Montes Claros Development Association is developing the idea of creating a geopark that could cover seven municipalities in Alentejo: Alandroal, Borba, Estremoz, Vila Viçosa, Redondo, Sousel, and Campo Maior. The project, proposed by the association's president, Ângelo de Sá, is still in an early stage of contacts and surveying possibilities, not yet constituting a formal application. The provisional name is "Geopark of the Marble Zone and the Border."
The main objective is to enhance the region's geological heritage, with special emphasis on marble in the municipalities of Vila Viçosa, Borba, and Estremoz, and create new opportunities in tourism, education, and sustainable development. The association intends to involve the entire community, including economic agents, farmers, industrialists, and the general population, and is already making contacts with institutions such as the University of Évora to identify geographers and geologists in the region.
The expectation is that this strategy will contribute to stimulating the regional economy, creating jobs, retaining population, and enhancing local products and activities. The creation of routes, trails, and educational programs is planned to bring schools and visitors closer to science and the territory, taking advantage of Ângelo de Sá's experience as a teacher advocating for field-based education.
The inclusion of Campo Maior could open the way to a cross-border dimension with Spain, with the association intending to explore the Spanish market as a potential for tourism attraction. According to Ângelo de Sá, success will depend on strong involvement from municipalities, universities, and schools, with Montes Claros giving the kickoff, and the main commitment resting with the other entities.
