Traditional Knowledge for Ecological Sustainability in Ria de Aveiro’s Cultural Ecosystem

This study examines how traditional artistic expressions may be interpreted as forms of ecological resistance and political engagement toward sustainability. Focusing on the agro-maritime moliceiro community in Ria de Aveiro, northwestern Portugal, it explores how their artifacts, artistic practices, identity, and economic activities are intricately connected to a fragile lagoon ecosystem increasingly threatened by environmental degradation. Using qualitative ethnographic methods, including field observation and documentation of artistic practices, the research analyzes the visual and performative dimensions of moliceiro boats that express the values and behaviors of the community. Findings reveal that these popular art forms embody profound empirical knowledge of both natural and cultural landscapes, translating community concerns that may be explained as co-creative acts of activism. The artworks articulate critiques of environmental harm, identify perceived sources of degradation and propose locally grounded alternatives. The study highlights how the moliceiro community’s artistic practices constitute a form of environmental communication rooted in lived experience yet overlooked by political authorities favoring external agendas over traditional ecological knowledge. Recognizing these expressions as legitimate environmental discourse might become crucial for fostering more inclusive and effective environmental governance.