APA and ICNF reform weakens environmental oversight
What's at stake
The precautionary principle, replaced by after-the-fact inspection.
Being defended
A reform of APA and ICNF that strengthens, rather than weakens, oversight capacity.
What's happening
The ongoing reform at the Portuguese Environment Agency and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests changes the environmental licensing model, replacing mandatory prior assessment with after-the-fact inspection for several project categories.
The Government justifies the change as part of an "administrative simplification" package, cutting timelines and documentation requirements for project developers.
SPEA and other environmental organizations warn that after-the-fact inspection typically comes too late to prevent irreversible damage to sensitive ecosystems, reversing the precautionary principle in environmental protection.