Contributions to the Public Consultation of the Survey Study of Potential Development of Public Initiative Irrigation in time horizon of a Decade. ANP/WWF, SPEA, GEOTA, PROTEJO and LPN

The study in public consultation presents some positive elements, namely:

• Vindication of efficient irrigation and its promotion in the planned investments for the rehabilitation of existing irrigation projects (588 M€).
• The foreseen interventions under the reinforcement of existing dams’ security.

However, our assessment is globally negative, namely because the limitation of the expansion of irrigation is not considered in light of the ecological impacts that it will cause and of the increasing limitation in available water resources. The lack of this basic assumption in the analysis is particularly serious since, given the hierarchy of restrictions in drought or scarcity situations (as stated in the Prevention, Monitoring and Contingency Plan for Drought Events), farmers will be the first to see limited access to water.

The technical advice (in Portuguese) is available here. 

14th January 2022