In an open letter to the Environment Minister, driven by the University of Porto, more than 120 scientists and specialists in marine, environmental, and social sciences urged the National Nature Restoration Plan “not to leave the sea behind.” Portugal has two years to create a plan and explain how it intends to implement those objectives and ideas.
On National Maritime Day, the University of Porto’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) released a statement announcing that it has organised the scientific community to write an open letter to Maria da Graça Carvalho, Minister of Environment and Energy, with the intention for them to “pay attention to the sea and marine habitats”. In the letter, which brings together more than 120 signatories from environment and marine experts as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations fighting for sea preservation, it is emphasised that 97% of Portugal’s area is the sea, which is home to a wide variety of marine life.
As stated in the letter “This rapid decline in habitats is due to the cumulative effects of human pressures such as unsustainable fishing, climate change, pollution, urbanisation of coastal areas and the spread of invasive species” which “put at risk vital benefits provided by marine biodiversity to society, such as climate regulation, natural protection of coastal areas, food sovereignty, livelihoods, local economies and the culture of coastal communities”.
The Nature Restoration Act, which established goals to preserve and restore biodiversity inside the EU, was approved by the European Parliament this year. The European Parliament stipulates that Portugal must repair all damaged habitats by 2050 and 20% of its land and maritime regions by 2030.
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