Portugal’s Government has asked the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA) to draw up a funding plan for the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela. Under the plan, part of the money paid by future hydroelectric concession holders would go towards restoring habitats and improving water resources in the park. Jornal o Interior
The ministerial order, published on 28 October, gives the APA 90 days from publication to submit its proposals to the Minister for Environment and Energy for approval. The agency must consult several bodies, including the park’s co-management commission and the Comunidade Intermunicipal das Beiras e Serra da Estrela. DR
New concessions expected to go to tender in 2027
An APA survey identified 22 schemes that use water resources within the park in the Mondego and Zêzere river basins. According to the order, 14 of those schemes have concessions that expire on 9 October 2028. The Government expects to launch a tender in 2027 and would prefer to group concessions together. DR
The draft contract terms are to cover hydroelectric concessions due to expire by the end of 2030. They will set out the proposed share of annual concession fees or other payments to be reserved for environmental work. DR
What the money could pay for
The APA would collect the money and transfer it to the Fundo Ambiental. The Ministry for Environment and Energy says the funding is intended to support work such as restoring ecosystems, improving the condition of water resources and helping the park adapt to climate change. The ministry also identifies landscape recovery and reducing wildfire risk as aims of the initiative. XXV Governo Constitucional
The next milestone is the APA’s funding proposal. The order sets a deadline for that proposal, while the amount the park could receive, the choice of projects and the timing of any work remain open. DR
