The recommendations were released in the final report (https://www.icnf.pt/api/file/doc/db8a7fbb541d4bdd), which detailed the results of the evaluation of the necessary protection and maintenance measures in the cork oak and holm oak areas.

“It is recommends that the compensation area for afforestation and/or densification is at least three times the affected area, to guarantee along the course of 25 years a minimum density of 80 trees per hectare in the case of cork oaks and 50 trees per hectare in terms of holm oaks, by planting at least five new trees for each adult tree which felled or uprooted”, read a note published on the ICNF website.

The group also proposes the “promotion of measures for improvement in an area equal to or greater than that affected, including restoration initiatives” and “anyone with a proposal must be required to present a bank guarantee after the approval of the respective compensation project”.

As maintained by the working group, which came into force last year, the value of the bank guarantee must be based on the operations foreseen in the Plano Orientador de Gestão (POG), the reference costs anticipated by the Comissão de Acompanhamento para as Operações Florestais (CAOF) and the guidelines defined by the ICNF.

The working group included representatives from INCF, the Gabinete do Secretário de Estado da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas, APCOR – Associação Portuguesa da Cortiça, UNAC – União da Floresta Mediterrânica, ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável and MED – Instituto para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento.

“Among the suggested measures is the creation of a digital platform on the ICNF website, with widespread access and which includes information on all stages of compensation projects, as well as information on candidate areas for afforestation and a list of areas of intervention”, adds the group.

Another recommendation is “allowing ICNF to delegate to local agents, through program contracts, for monitoring the success of the compensatory measures implemented, in turn contributing to a timely surveillance of these processes”.

The working group also suggested the creation of a monitoring committee, to remain in place to “monitor the implementation of the conclusions and recommendations identified”.

At the end of the year, a new report will be presented on the degree of implementation of the conclusions and recommendations.