Keen Tours

03/05/2024

The Week about Invasive Species starts tomorrow!

Check all the events happening in Portugal and Spain and join the effort https://www.speco.pt/inveco/sei.

03/05/2024

Individually and collectively, we must do what we can to tackle this issue.

What climate change really means by EarthlyEducation

30/04/2024

Have you seen an alien?
Yes, they are among us! And this course can can help you spot them and control them.

Invasive Alien Speies (IAS) "are non-native biological organisms (plants or animals) that are widely spread, including the urban environment. Timely reporting helps to prevent their further spread; thus, people’s contribution is really important.

The European Alien Species Information Network - EASIN Citizen Science activities aim at bringing together people, scientists and policymakers in an effort to monitor and control invasive alien species (IAS) that cause damage to native species, ecosystems and human health."

Have you seen an alien?

28/04/2024

We've been celebrating freedom and democracy duting these last days.
On April, 25th in 1974, a revolution ended 48 years of a fascist dictatorship.

The celebrations mark 50 years of this historical date and ocurred in most every city, town and village in Portugal, and also some places abroad.

Here are some photos of the Lisbon's demonstration:

Thousands in Lisbon celebrated the 50th anniversary on Thursday of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, which toppled the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe and ushered in democracy. The almost bloodless revolution was conducted by a group of junior army officers who wanted democracy and to put an...

23/04/2024

Learn more about invasive alien species and how important it is to control them.

If you're aroung Gerês on May, the 4, join us on our action regarding Mimosas - https://buff.ly/4b4ccHV

Take a look at this summary video about the IPBES Invasive Alien Species Assessment!At the tenth session of the IPBES Plenary, held in Bonn, Germany from 28 ...

13/04/2024

Once again, Keen Tours takes part of the local Annual Trails' Plan, organized by Gerês Viver Turismo Association.

Throughout the year, enjoy free group guided trails by local companies when you spend the night at a list of accommodations (https://buff.ly/3VTSzhk).

Join our next hike on April, 20.

10/04/2024

"In 2023, IPBES published the Thematic Assessment of Invasive Alien Species and their Control — the largest study ever of its kind. Invasive alien species are one among the five direct drivers of biodiversity loss.

How can we address this threat? How can you and your community rise to the challenge?

Keep reading for an overview of IPBES resources on invasive alien species, ways in which you can take action, and further opportunities for learning and engagement — all available for free."

In 2023, IPBES published the Thematic Assessment of Invasive Alien Species and their Control — the largest study ever of its kind. Invasive alien species are one among the five direct drivers of biodiversity loss. How can we address this threat? How can you and your community...

02/04/2024

This map of the city of Braga is known as Braun's map once it is part of the work Civitates Orbis Terrarum, by that Gerog Braun. It is the first known general illustration for the city of Braga, executed in 1594.

During a Full-Day Tour in Braga, we'll guide you in and out both the roman and medieval walls of the city to visit several spots and understand how the city developed..

Discover the different layers of the always present History and how it all fits in one of the cities in Europe with the youngest population and innovative new businesses.

This tour offers a full experience of its History, Culture and Gastronomy – join us! https://bit.ly/3wWt8Bx

22/03/2024

Unfortunately, we don't have good news...

Let's rise up to the urgency that this represents.

21/03/2024

It doesn't look like much, but this small "Quercus rotundifolia" (rounded leaf oak), a rare type of oak on these parts, means quite a lot.

During a hike this week, we found a small population of dwarfed trees, isolated from their mightier siblings that can be found further south.

They are remnants from a distant age with a warmer climate, but can still be seen surviving in between granite crags in high altitude.

Happy International Tree Day! May you have many opportunities to immerse in forests this year.

18/03/2024

Wood as a sustainable construction material - what is the real impact?

"Provided the trees come from sustainable forests - so they are replaced when chopped down - and as long as the wood is recycled at the end of a building’s life, it could be a powerful solution."

There are various ways to store excess carbon dioxide. ‘One way is to have it hidden in buildings,’ says Tero Hasu, a project manager at Kouvola Innovation, a municipally owned development company of the City of Kouvola in Finland. The ZEB (zero emission building) Lab achieves this by using wood...

17/03/2024

Braga is one of the cities included in the .

" The city of Braga is the perfect backdrop to experience the Passion of Christ in Portugal, as it offers one of the most multifaceted expressions of Holy Week."

Join us on exploring the many different expressions of Easter that have changed the city since the IV century .. https://bit.ly/43h48ko

Braga is a city located in the far north-west of Portugal. It was the capital of the historic province of Minho and is home to one of the oldest archdioceses on the Iberian peninsula. It is the third largest city in Portugal and currently has a population of around 200,000 and occupies an area of 18...

16/03/2024

Please, sign this letter suggested by WWF Portugal to stop the proposal that aims to reduce the protection status of the Iberian Wolf.

"We cannot sacrifice decades of conservation work simply for political gains: unprotecting the wolf in no way solves the socioeconomic problems that affect agriculture and rural communities, contrary to what Ursula von der Leyen wants to insinuate. Coexistence between humans and large carnivores is possible!"

PROTEGER O LOBO

15/03/2024

"Global income and wealth inequalities are tightly connected to ecological inequalities and to inequalities in contribution to climate change. On average humans emit 6.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2) per capita and per year. Our novel dataset on carbon emissions inequalities reveals important inequalities in CO2 emissions at the world level: the top 10% of emitters are responsible for close to 50% of all emissions, while the bottom 50% make 12% of the total. "

💵 global wealth 🌍 ecological inequality 💰 income inequality since 1820♀ gender inequality 👉 Check it out wir2022.wid.world 👥 World Inequality Lab - WID.world

15/03/2024

Braga's Holy Week is coming!

Processions, exhibitions and concerts are some of the dozens of events during the whole month of March that fill the city with a very special kind of atmosphere.

Book a tour with us and learn then importance of these festivities in this 2000yo city while visiting some very special places opened only duriing these celebrations.

In half a day get to know the essential Braga. Visit museums, admire façades and cross squares. In Braga, times flows differently - come with us to find why

14/03/2024

Keen Tours has been recognized by the Portuguese National Tourism Authority as one of the 294 companies dedicated to promoting .

We are pleased to receive this acknowledgment for our efforts in this area, which drives our decisions everyday.

https://bit.ly/3vcSaf8

04/03/2024

Video made in Gerês by a lover of these mountains, perfect to relax and enjoy nature sounds.

”All things age and renew themselves. Why are we excluded from nature's beautiful cycle? Or does it hold for us too? ”
Friedrich Holderlin

Gerês - Mystery of the Eternal Cycle” All things age and renew themselves. Why are we excluded from nature's beautiful cycle? Or does it hold for us too? ” ...

01/03/2024

Sunny Winter days make for some of the best hikes.

The moss shines, puddles reflect the landscape and the view is clear because most leaves are yet to regrow.

This hike included a strech of the roman road that crosses Gerês - locally known as Geira.

Join us and discover amazing spots several layers to enjoy.
pt .xures .pt

01/03/2024

Felix Martius mensis!

We entered the month dedicated to Mars, god of war and guardian of agriculture.

Mars was the first month of the year until 153BCE.

[ Mês de março]

🌼🛡️ Hoje marca o início do mês de março, conhecido como "Martius mensis" na Roma Antiga - o mês dedicado a Marte, o deus da guerra. Originalmente, março era o primeiro mês do ano e sinalizava o momento em que as campanhas militares eram retomadas, honrando assim o deus da guerra.

🖼️ Na imagem temos um vibrante painel de mosaico que representa o mês de março. Três jovens estão retratados batendo uma pele de animal com paus, simbolizando vigor e atividade. Este magnífico mosaico está atualmente em exibição no Musée archéologique de Sousse, na Tunísia.

✨ Tinha conhecimento desta informação? Partilhe a sua opinião nos comentários! Descubra mais sobre as origens deste mês.

Visite-nos de terça-feira a domingo, das 10h00 às 17h30.
Aos domingos e feriados, temos entrada gratuita durante todo o dia, para todos os cidadãos residentes em território nacional.

16/02/2024

Staying home for the weekend?
Here are 5 suggestions of documentaries from Biosphere Sustainable.

Would you recommend any other?

If you like documentaries about nature and sustainability, here are 5 that you absolutely must see. An Ocean of Plastic...

13/02/2024

"It has been shown that the amygdala is more activated during a stress task in urban compared to rural dwellers. However, no study so far has examined the causal effects of natural and urban environments on stress-related brain mechanisms. To address this question, we conducted an intervention study to investigate changes in stress-related brain regions as an effect of a one-hour walk in an urban (busy street) vs. natural environment (forest)."

Since living in cities is associated with an increased risk for mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia, it is essential to understand how exposure to urban and natural environments affects mental health and the brain. It has been shown that the amygdala is more act...

08/02/2024

"Learning to think about how, when, where and in what way we travel and take care of the environment we visit is an individual task."

You prepare your holidays with all the excitement in the world. You imagine yourself on the beach enjoying yourself, but there's no room for a towel... Find out what overtourism is!

05/02/2024

So much to do and so little time...

The independent European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change has warned the EU that its greenhouse gas reduction targets could slip out of reach without immediate implementation of existing policy, and moves to end fossil fuel subsidies and tackle emissions related to farming and land use.

31/01/2024

How to spot .

¿Greenwashing? it is a marketing technique used by brands to convince consumers that they are much more sustainable than they really are. 

24/01/2024

Your choices matter more than you know!

In every corner of rural communities are hidden cultural and traditional treasures that, fortunately, have withstood the test of time.