Peneda-Gerês National Park is Portugal’s only national park, and one of its greatest natural treasures. Here, crystal-clear rivers, lagoons, and oak forests sustain unique biodiversity, including species such as the otter, freshwater mussel, and European eel. But these habitats are under pressure: invasive species, wildfires, degraded soils, and river barriers threaten their ecological balance.
With your support, through Re-Store Portugal initiative, WWF will:
Restore riparian habitats, so that plants along riverbanks (known as riparian galleries) provide shade and stabilize the banks
Protect endangered species
Reduce fire risk
Benefit fauna and flora
Identify invasive aquatic species in iconic yet little-studied rivers
Control invasive plants to create space for native vegetation
Nature is life. Water is life. Re-Store Portugal is a WWF Portugal initiative designed to accelerate ecological restoration across the country by mobilizing citizens, companies, and decision-makers. Restoring nature is essential to address the environmental and climate challenges Portugal faces, such as biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and forest fires.
Why restore? Portugal is among the European countries with the highest number of species at risk. Its ecosystems are under pressure: degraded forests, rivers fragmented by barriers, coastal areas affected by erosion, and invasive species disrupting habitats. Restoration is an effective, long-term solution that improves water quality, protects against natural disasters, and strengthens food security.
The new EU Nature Restoration Law requires all Member States to present a National Restoration Plan by 2026. Portugal now has the opportunity to lead this effort, with clear targets to recover terrestrial, marine, urban, agricultural, and river ecosystems by 2050. WWF Portugal has identified nine priority ecosystems for intervention based on ecological, social, and technical criteria. Between 2026 and 2030, WWF aims to restore at least three of these ecosystems: Serra do Caldeirão, Tagus Estuary, and Peneda-Gerês National Park. Achieving this goal will only be possible with the support of citizens and companies and also guaranteeing that decision-makers also work together with us to bring nature back to life.
WWF has already carried out more than 90 restoration projects, recovering 300 hectares of ecosystems, freeing 10 km of rivers, and benefiting over 120 species. The Re-Store Portugal initiative builds on this legacy, aligning it with European and global commitments.
One of our priority areas is Peneda-Gerês National Park, where streams and riparian habitats are under pressure. With your support, we can recover these vital landscapes, ensuring resilient rivers and thriving life for generations to come.
In the Re-Store Portugal initiative, we prioritize active restoration actions and people’s involvement. Through active restoration, we intervene directly in ecosystems to accelerate recovery and reestablish essential ecological functions. Through citizen engagement, we share our goals, listen to their concerns and aspirations, and mobilize them around the importance of restoring nature for the benefit of all and the planet. In Peneda-Gerês National Park, we plan to restore a total of 140 hectares (a key goal of the initiative) in various ways: for example, using goat and sheep grazing for selective shrub management to reduce density in certain areas; controlling invasive species by removing them and encouraging native vegetation to reclaim the space; restoring riparian habitats so that plants along riverbanks (known as riparian galleries) provide shade and stabilize the banks; and monitoring the presence of emblematic species. Achieving this target will only be possible with people’s support, making every contribution vital to bringing nature back to life.
The Re-Store Portugal initiative actions in Penêda-Gerês National Park directly benefit nature by restoring its biodiversity and freshwater habitats. Local communities benefit from improved ecosystem services, such as clean water and resilient landscapes, while the country strengthens its adaptive capacity and reduces ecological risks. At the same time, it ensures stability and healthy ecosystem resources for future generations.