RIAS: Educating to Conservation

Introduction
RIAS is a wildlife rescue centre located in southern Portugal, in the Algarve region. We admit injured and displaced wild animals from across the region, providing medical care and physical rehabilitation through fully equipped and naturalised enclosures. Our primary goal is to return every animal to the wild healthy, strong, and able to survive independently.

Key Activities / Highlights
Environmental education has been a core part of RIAS’ mission since its establishment in 2009. Over the years, we have organised educational events, activities, and workshops for local communities, schools, and visitors. In 2025, with the support of the WLI Small Grant, we aim to significantly enhance the quality and reach of our environmental education programme. This includes developing more engaging activities and upgrading our educational materials with tools such as magnifying glasses and a telescope. The acquisition of a projector, projector screen, staff uniforms, and an educational giveaway kit will allow us to deliver more professional and impactful presentations in a wider range of locations beyond our facilities. In parallel, we are strengthening our online presence by improving the quality of our social media content. The use of a camera and stabiliser will enable us to produce engaging visual material that supports environmental awareness, education, and advocacy. Importantly, all of these resources are designed for long-term use and will become an integral part of our day-to-day activities.

Impact / Outcome
Our environmental education programme continues to attract strong interest, with schools and tourism organisations regularly contacting us to host workshops and courses. Thanks to the new equipment, we are now able to bring our activities to new settings rather than relying solely on our on-site facilities. This increased mobility and improved presentation quality allow us to reach broader audiences and strengthen our impact across the region.

Next Steps
RIAS will continue raising awareness and educating local communities about the value of ecosystems and the importance of conservation, with a particular focus on the Ria Formosa. Through education and engagement, we aim to encourage more responsible and sustainable behaviours that help protect the environment for present and future generations.