The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils, a geoconservation plan has been developed by ICNF with the support of local authorities. After several years of being open to visitors without proper control, the Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site is now conditioned to organized groups of researchers, schools, and tourists. Some body fossils were collected for studies and included in the national collections of the Geological Museum (Lisbon). Moreover, casts have been made to protect holotypes of trace fossils, also providing ways to replicate this fossil record in temporary exhibitions. A long-term experimental study to conserve the limestone bedding plane exposures and their fossil contents was started in order to develop the best geoconservation strategy with an aim to reduce the damage produced by the increasing tourist demand on natural sites. Cabeço da Ladeira and other geosites in protected areas are key to communicating an evolutionary approach to environmental education, and their geoconservation must be a priority to improve their long-term use as (geo)tourism attractions.

The Oeste UNESCO Global Geopark (OUGGp) comprises the municipalities of Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Peniche, Lourinhã and Torres Vedras, in the Portuguese central West. With a total area of 1.154 km², the most common rocks in this territory date from the Jurassic, representing 77% of the outcropping rocks. They are known for their extraordinary paleontological heritage, including twelve dinosaur species erected based on fossils collected in the OUGGp.In 2025, the OUGGp launched the GeoSchool Program. This project was designed to connect students and teachers with the geological, biological, and cultural richness of the OUGGp, encouraging learning through exploration and hands-on experiences.In its first year, the program achieved remarkable success. More than 500 students joined, from four schools across the OUGGp territory. Throughout the school year, joining schools had the opportunity to take part in field activities across some of the region’s most emblematic sites — from the stunning coastal cliffs of Caniçal, Peralta and Praia Azul, to the amazing landscape of Foz do Arelho. These fieldtrips were complemented with guided tours in interpretation centers and museums. There, students learned about fossils, rocks, and dynamic processes that have been shaping the region for millions of years.In addition to outdoor learning, the Geoschool Program aims to promote hands-on experiences, where students search, learn and synthesize their new knowledge about the OUGGp territory, through the creation and assembly of different types of exhibitions – from paintings, to crafts, or even photographs.This program also introduces educational kits and digital resources to support teachers, and help integrating Geopark themes into the school curricula. These materials include classroom games, thematic videos, and scientific experiments, all designed to make geology and environmental science fun and accessible. The Geopark’s team also delivers teacher training sessions, equipping educators with tools and knowledge to continue developing Geopark-related content during the year.Another important aspect of the Geoschool Program is to raise awareness about environmental issues: the proposed activities included in the program's regulations comprise cleaning actions in geosites. Therefore, in addition to gaining knowledge about the territory, students are also playing a truly active role in preserving the heritage and the environment.All the GeoSchool Program initiatives meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 4 (Quality Education), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land), aiming to give new generations the knowledge and tools necessary to build a better world.

The Oeste UNESCO Global Geopark (OUGGp) comprises the municipalities of Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Peniche, Lourinhã and Torres Vedras. Located in the Portuguese central west region (Europe), it has a total area of 1154 km² and 72 km of Atlantic coastline. Rocks from the Jurassic Period are the most common in the territory, representing 77% of the total area, and are known for its many dinosaur discoveries. The dissemination of the geological heritage is one of the main goals of UNESCO Global Geoparks. Here we present three tools created by the OUGGp seeking to promote its heritage among schools. In 2021, the “Rocha²” project was created as part of Educational Programs Catalog of the OUGGp. Its main goal is to bring the geodiversity elements of the OUGGp to schools, in a didactic and enjoyable way. The project includes two boxes (one for 7th grade; and one for 10th and 11th grade) and four manuals (one for 7th grade students; one for 10th and 11th grade; and two for their respective teachers). The boxes have different rock samples and fossil replicas. The manuals include complementary activities (e.g. letter soups, crosswords, and quizzes). In 2022, OUGGp produced the “De Costa (En)Costa” webdocumentary (https://costaencosta.pt). Based on an online platform, the viewer can interact with different contents from the different geosites of the OUGGp, on its own time and sequence. It provides the opportunity to take a virtual tour through the territory where, on each geosite, the visitor can interact with 360º videos of the place, watch scientists’ explanations and diagrams about different topics (Geology, Paleontology, Geography, Archeology, and local Culture) in a simple language, as well as 360º views of Planet Earth through geological time. This platform is accessible at home or outdoors, because it adapts to mobile phone format. In 2023, the OUGGp opened CIGO - Oeste Geopark Interpretation Center, as the main territory entrance, offering the visitor a journey through 250 million years of our planet's history, in a single space. There, the visitor can discover the “footprints” that Earth’s evolution left in this territory, including the birth of the North Atlantic Ocean, the life and death of dinosaurs, the beginning and evolution of humanity and the people and traditions that shape the identity and the daily life of the territory.