The plan, published in the Diário da República on October 21, coincides with COP17 in Armenia, where Portugal advocates for increased investment in biodiversity. The Iberian lynx population in Portugal reached 394 individuals in 2025, a conservation success that led the IUCN to change the species' classification from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable".
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, highlighted that the recovery of the Iberian lynx demonstrates that it is possible to reverse biodiversity loss, emphasizing the importance of scientific knowledge, cooperation, and continued investment.
PACLIP 2026-2030 focuses on consolidating populations, improving habitats, and species expansion, with measures such as enhanced monitoring, reduction of mortality (road accidents), recovery of wild rabbit populations, and improved ecological connectivity. The plan covers the entire continental territory, with particular emphasis on Baixo Alentejo, Algarve, and areas with expansion potential such as Serra da Malcata.
Coordination will be handled by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), in conjunction with various entities. A new feature is the proposal for a support and compensation scheme for damages associated with the presence of the Iberian lynx, to be presented by December 31, 2026, to prevent conflicts with landowners and farmers.
The overall funding amounts to five million euros until 2030, including annual allocations from the Environmental Fund and Águas do Algarve for ex situ conservation. The plan includes semi-annual reports and an interim evaluation in 2028.
