SPEA says Portugal's nature restoration plan lacks ambition and funding clarity

After the public consultation on Portugal's National Nature Restoration Plan closed on 19 August, bird conservation group SPEA warned the 407-measure plan risks falling short of its goal. The organisation says success indicators focus too much on hectares restored rather than actual recovery of species and ecosystems, and that funding sources for the roughly €500 million a year needed remain unclear. SPEA also flagged gaps in monitoring, light pollution measures, urban ecosystems, and coverage of the Azores, Madeira and marine areas. It called for stable long-term financing, robust biological indicators and stronger local involvement to ensure the plan delivers real biodiversity gains by 2030.