The research carried out by Clara Sarmento, Director of the Centre for Intercultural Studies (CEI) at ISCAP–P.Porto, on the moliceiro boat of the Ria de Aveiro made a significant contribution to the international recognition of this cultural heritage. Her academic work received 50 citations in the ICH Inventory, the core document supporting the nomination “Moliceiro Boat: The Art of Naval Carpentry of the Aveiro Region” to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The nomination was approved on 9 December 2025 by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee, meeting in New Delhi, India, representing a decision of major importance for Portuguese culture and for the valorisation of traditional practices linked to the cultural identity of the Aveiro Region.
The official nomination documentation is available on the UNESCO website, under item 7.a.7., at: https://ich.unesco.org/en/7a-urgent-safeguarding-list-01411
This international recognition highlights the relevance of the research conducted at CEI for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and for strengthening the connection between scientific knowledge, local communities and global cultural policies.