The Special Programs for the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the Aire and Candeeiros Mountains Natural Park, the Tejo International Natural Park, and the Litoral Norte Natural Park were excluded (from a total of 25 plans) in the July 2023 tender by a public entity, due to their advanced stage of development.
The procedure, with contracts signed in October, aimed to acquire services to support the transition of 20, rather than 21, Protected Area Planning (POAP) Plans to Special Programs (PEAP), as the Estrela Mountain plan was excluded due to the 2022 fires.
Of the PEAPs under the responsibility of ICNF, only the Special Program for the Aire and Candeeiros Mountains Natural Park, whose boundaries were updated, and its regulations have been approved and published in October 2023 in the Official Gazette, confirmed the national authority in this matter.
According to ICNF, the Special Program for the Litoral Norte Natural Park is further along, “awaiting approval and subsequent publication.”
The Special Program for the Peneda-Gerês National Park is “in the stage of drafting the public discussion report and the final version of the Special Program, expected to be completed by 2025.”
Regarding the Special Program for the Tejo International Natural Park, ICNF clarifies that it “will be submitted to public discussion very soon.”
The POAPs establish the conservation policy intended for the National Network of Protected Areas, comprising 51 areas, including one national park, 13 natural parks, nine natural reserves, two protected landscapes, and seven natural monuments. Twenty-five have POAPs in effect.
The transition of the 25 active POAPs to PEAPs is mandated by the Basic Law on Public Policy for Land, Territorial Planning and Urbanism. Law no. 31/2014 dictates the replacement of Special Territorial Management Plans by Special Programs, incorporating their content into Municipal Master Plans (PDM).
Unlike POAPs, Special Programs are binding only on public administration and not on individuals.
At the end of December 2022, in parliament, ICNF President Nuno Banza acknowledged delays in the transition from plans to programs.
A decree dated November 25, 2022, authorizes ICNF to incur multi-annual commitments for 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the transition of 21 POAPs to PEAPs, with 10 having completed the initial drafting and preliminary work.
