20-turbine, 140 MW wind farm proposed on Chaves common land opens to public comment
A proposed wind farm of 20 turbines is open to public consultation until 25 November in the municipality of Chaves, Vila Real district. Developer AER SOLÉIR Investments Portugal plans 140 MW across 668 hectares of four common lands, with seven-megawatt turbines expected to generate 231 GWh a year. The consultation covers only the scoping stage of the environmental impact assessment, which sets what the later study must examine. Monitoring since May has found at least one adult pair of Iberian wolves and two cubs nearby. Construction would take about 17 months, and the park would operate for 35 to 40 years.
Government orders Berlengas visitor revenue to fund nature conservation and better staff conditions
Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho has issued an order, published in the Diário da República, setting new duties for the nature conservation agency ICNF on the Berlengas Nature Reserve. Staff on the island must get year-round electricity, a boat for regular transport, a suitable vehicle and better housing, safety and communications. The BerlengasPass access system is to be made simpler and more transparent, with tighter control of revenue and visitor numbers, and part of its income will go to ecological restoration. The ICNF has 15 days to report on progress and 30 days to present a plan, plus a four-year revenue account.
Ponte da Barca sets controlled fires in two parishes to cut wildfire risk
The municipality of Ponte da Barca, in northern Portugal, has begun controlled burns in the parish of Boivães and in the combined parishes of Crasto, Ruivos and Grovelas. The work is led by the municipal civil protection service with the local volunteer firefighters, forest sapper teams from the Associação Florestal do Lima and an accredited controlled-fire technician. The burns aim to reduce the fuel load in areas already identified as high risk. They are also meant to renew scrub and pasture and improve habitats for grazing and wildlife.
Paredes de Coura mayor presents wildfire prevention work at EU civil protection forum
Tiago Cunha, mayor of Paredes de Coura, spoke at the 9th European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels on 3 and 4 November, the only Portuguese mayor on the official speaker programme. The event drew around 2,000 participants from 80 nationalities. He joined a panel on integrated wildfire risk management, alongside the OECD, Wageningen University and other bodies, presenting the municipality's approach to landscape management, rural fire prevention and community preparedness. The municipality also showcased Sparkids, an educational game developed with local schools to teach children about civil protection, and Cunha gave a copy to European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib. He argued that protecting people starts before an emergency, through education and community involvement.
Environmental groups oppose possible EU reopening of Birds and Habitats Directives
The European Commission is considering a review of the Birds and Habitats Directives, with the move listed in its 2027 work programme and potentially touching the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. A coalition including WWF, BirdLife Europe and ClientEarth calls this a step backwards, arguing that enforcement, funding and monitoring should come first while the Commission's own evaluation is still running. The groups cite a petition with 1.25 million signatures, and several member states and renewable energy firms have voiced concern. In Portugal, WWF says a review contradicts commitments made at the COP17 biodiversity summit.
