Portugal launches Pro-Rios 2030, a 187 million euro river and stream restoration program running from 2026 to 2030, targeting roughly 1,000 kilometers of waterways and more than 80 interventions to reverse decades of degradation and bolster resilience to extreme climate events.

Pro-Rios 2030 is a core pillar of the Agua que Une strategy and Portugal's National Plan for Nature Restoration, which is due for submission to the European Commission in the summer of 2026.

The program aims to rehabilitate about 168 kilometers of waterways and address flood risk, climate adaptation, ecological health, and biodiversity across the national river network.

Officials criticize past embankment-heavy practices, advocating for natural infrastructure to reduce flood risks and restore sediment transport dynamics.

Around a dozen projects are planned nationwide, including removing obsolete barriers, improving flood control, and enhancing ecological conditions and biodiversity in river ecosystems.

An interactive intervention map will be released on the National Environment Information System to georeference projects, track execution indicators, and disclose funding sources.

The plan prioritizes nature-based solutions, with examples like the Agueira stream restoration using an “engraçamento vivo” system and the Leça River Green Corridor's integrated water management, illustrating cross-municipal governance and community involvement.

Interventions will span approximately 1,000 kilometers of rivers and ribeiras, distributed across more than 80 improvement actions.

Current data shows over half of surface water bodies are not in good ecological status, with around 15,000 barriers affecting biodiversity and sediment transport, though only 263 are large dams.

The program focuses on renaturalizing river beds and banks, removing barriers to restore river continuity, controlling invasive species, valuing territories to bring communities closer to rivers, and strengthening scientific monitoring.

The Algarve and Alentejo will receive 52.5 million euros as part of the initiative, marking the first dedicated river-and-ribeira program for these regions.

Funding for the Algarve and Alentejo will total 52.5 million euros, highlighted by the Environment Minister as a regional-first investment.