NGOs warn forest funds risk being lost again to delays

ZERO and Centro PINUS have warned that delays in processing forestry support applications under Portugal's Common Agricultural Policy plan (PEPAC) continue to threaten full use of EU funds for forest management. By late June 2026, all applications from the first four closed calls remained undecided, some pending for nearly a year despite a 60-day target. The groups recall that in 2024, 44% of available forestry funds were reallocated to other PEPAC measures due to expected low execution. They are demanding a recovery plan from the PEPAC Managing Authority and ICNF, with decisions on the pending applications by early September.