Groups urge Portugal to protect grasslands against desertification

Ahead of World Desertification Day on 17 June, marked this year as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, environmental voices warn that Portugal's fight against desertification depends on protecting grasslands, which cover nearly a fifth of mainland Portugal. They argue that current sectoral and land-use policies remain fragmented and give insufficient weight to soil and biodiversity protection. Overgrazing degrades soil and worsens erosion, while restored grasslands can sequester carbon and improve water retention. The ongoing revision of Portugal's National Action Programme to Combat Desertification is presented as a key opportunity to align policies, especially as solar infrastructure has already converted thousands of hectares of permanent pasture since 2018.