ICNF proposes extending nature park into three more municipalities

Portugal's nature conservation institute ICNF has put forward a proposal to extend the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park into Alcanena, Ourém and Torres Novas, adding about 3,734 hectares along the park's limestone escarpment. The park, created in 1979 and currently covering roughly 38,352 hectares across seven municipalities, aims to protect the region's karst landscape and geological heritage. Torres Novas council had pushed for the expansion since 2019, arguing the current boundary excluded key parts of the escarpment. The plan is open for public consultation until Monday.

This appeared in the Pulse of 4 September 2026 — Read that edition →