Planting trees alone in a protected area needs prior permission

A Wilder reader from Vila Real wants to plant native trees, one at a time and alone, to help restore parts of the Serra do Alvão burned by repeated wildfires, including a 2025 fire that affected about 6,000 hectares. GEOTA, asked by Wilder to clarify the rules, explains that public land cannot simply be planted on by anyone: permission from the landowner or managing authority is required, and protected areas may carry extra legal restrictions, including Natura 2000 rules and Portugal's afforestation regime. GEOTA also stresses that native species alone are not enough — soil, water, altitude and plant provenance must be considered, along with post-planting care.