Update: Rising Against Illegal Loggers

After an illegal clear-cut on our land in September 2023, we were forced to act swiftly to prevent further destruction of Portugal’s forests. With the steadfast support of our local community and countless others who care deeply about environmental protection, we launched a petition that gathered over 18,000 signatures—calling for urgent legal reforms to stop similar environmental crimes from happening again.

Thanks to this overwhelming support, we were able to bring our proposal to the Portuguese Parliament. On July 3, 2025—nearly two years later—our case was finally discussed.

There were some interesting law proposals being presented, that would make clear-cutting illegal in protected areas among other changes. There was a unanimous vote to bring the proposals in front of a special commission, to be discussed and negotiated, before going back to the Parliament to be voted on again. A small setback, but we haven’t lost hope!

This fight isn’t over! And with your continued support, we’ll keep pushing for the protection our forests and ecosystems deserve.

In September, 2023, a logging company illegally began deforesting land belonging to both us and the Municipality of Lousã, including areas within the protected Natura 2000 network.

Despite initial police involvement and multiple embargoes imposed by both the landowners and local authorities, the loggers continued their work with impunity, backed by a dubious Cutting Manifesto issued within ICNF’s portal, which failed to require proof of land ownership. Our appeals to the police and authorities were met with inaction, leaving us to document the destruction and raise awareness through social media.

Legal efforts were initiated, but Portugal’s slow judicial process allowed the logging to continue for weeks. The company’s blatant disregard for the law—even after being warned of criminal charges—underscored critical flaws in forest protection and law enforcement mechanisms. In response, we launched a nationwide petition calling for legal reforms, including stricter controls on logging in protected areas and real enforcement of embargoes.

Read the whole story in our Blog!

Rising Against Illegal Loggers on Our Land: A Chronicle of Resilience

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Is clear-cutting legal in Natura 2000 zones in Portugal?
As of mid-2025, the legal framework has significant gaps. The case that Silveira Tech brought forward demonstrated how a Cutting Manifesto could be issued through the ICNF portal without requiring proof of land ownership, enabling logging to proceed even within protected Natura 2000 network areas. Proposals to close this gap were submitted to a Parliamentary commission in July 2025 and are under negotiation.

What is ICNF and why does it matter for forest protection?
ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas) is the Portuguese public authority responsible for nature conservation and forest management. It administers the Cutting Manifesto system that authorises logging operations. Weaknesses in how ownership is verified before manifesto issuance were at the centre of the legal challenge Silveira Tech brought to Parliament.

How did the illegal logging petition reach 18,000 signatures?
After the September 2023 illegal clear-cut, Silveira Tech documented the destruction and raised awareness through social media, reaching a broad audience of people concerned about forest protection in Portugal. The petition called for stricter logging controls in protected areas and real enforcement of embargoes, it was signed by over 18,000 people within weeks of launch.