Methodology
This is the process we follow to choose, verify and classify each cause published on Ulmeiro. We wrote this page because we believe anyone who relies on a source of information has the right to know how it is built.
Inclusion criteria
A cause is added to Ulmeiro when it meets three conditions: there is public documentation about it (press coverage, official public consultation portals, statements from identifiable organizations or communities), there is a concrete organization, collective or community associated with it, and the situation is ongoing or had relevant recent developments. We do not include rumours or unverifiable reports.
How we verify
Every case here is verified before publication, with sources you can follow back to the origin. We cross-check independent press coverage with statements from the organizations and communities involved, and, whenever it exists, with the official process (public consultation, petition, injunction). Each case's sources are listed on its page, under "Press coverage".
How we classify each cause's status
We use five categories, assigned based on the concrete action available at the time of verification:
- ⚡ Urgent action — there's an active petition to sign or a near deadline (for example, a scheduled eviction).
- 🗳 Public consultation — an official public consultation is open for you to take part in.
- ⚖ Legal process — the case is being contested in court.
- ✓ Victory — there was a favourable decision (permit refused, project stopped).
- ◐ Ongoing — there's no immediate action available, but we keep following the situation.
Each card shows the date we last verified that information ("Verified on"). That date refers to our verification, not necessarily to the latest development in the process itself.
About the different positions
Let's be direct about this: the public information available on most of these causes comes mainly from those contesting the projects — organized communities, associations and collectives. Whenever the promoting entity or responsible authority has a public position on the case, we try to include or link to it in the sources. Where that hasn't happened yet for a specific case, it's a gap we acknowledge, not a deliberate editorial choice, and it's something we keep improving case by case.
Independence and funding
We are not affiliated with any political party. We receive no funding from companies with interests in the projects documented here. Ulmeiro is run independently.
What Ulmeiro is not
Ulmeiro is not a complaints channel. We do not receive, investigate or forward environmental complaints, we are a public-information aggregator. To report an environmental crime in Portugal, contact the SOS Ambiente e Território line directly (808 200 520, free, 24h) or APA — the Portuguese Environment Agency (geral@apambiente.pt). We are also not an NGO, a movement, or an entity that represents the listed communities, we only gather and verify information that is already public about them.
Corrections
Found an error, a missing source, a cause we should include, or outdated information? Write to us at geral@ulmeiro.org. We correct it as fast as we can and, whenever the correction is relevant, update the case's verification date.