“Reversing biodiversity loss, along with the fight against climate change, is one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
– Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portuguese Minister for Environment and Energy
Where land meets water
This week, the Tagus in Lisbon celebrated its 50th anniversary as a Natural Reserve. It is the largest estuary in Western Europe and the biggest wetland in Portugal. It is a crucial habitat for aquatic birds, home to 120,000 waterfowl during migration season, as well as many species of fish, molluscs, and crustaceans.
Due to its significant ecological value, the estuary’s Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive has been designated one of the continent’s Natura 2000 sites, the world’s biggest network of protected areas. The area is also part of the LIFE Godwit Flyway project, focused on restoration of the Saragoça salt pans, a key habitat for the Black-tailed godwit. But the points at which inland waterways meet the ocean have also historically served as important human settlements, and this vital ecosystem is under pressure from pollution and other impacts of development. As an urban waterfront in a major city, the Tagus estuary’s wildlife, along with its human population, are on the front line of climate-related risks, including flooding and coastal erosion.
Upstream, in the Tagus river basin, the region’s valuable alluvial forest habitats are also under threat, impacting several species, including the endangered Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), a small, semi-aquatic mammal. EU-funded ecological restoration projects under the LIFE program aim to improve river flows, plant biodiversity and water quality, reduce pollution and increase resilience against the impacts of climate change for local communities. The ongoing management and restoration of the river and its estuary demonstrate the complexity of planning and implementing projects to enhance biodiversity and human wellbeing while also balancing financial constraints and political priorities.
Restoration in motion
Next year, SER2027, the 12th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, will meet in Lisbon at this stunning intersection of land, water, and people. The biennial conference is the world’s largest gathering of restoration experts, with more than 1,500 delegates expected to attend. The conference returns to Europe for the first time in 12 years, at a crucial time for the region’s biodiversity and climate resilience.
Under the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), member states must submit their draft National Restoration Plans by 1 September 2026, and final plans a year later. Underlining Portugal’s leadership in environmental policy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, the country’s Minister for Environment and Energy, is clear that the regulation is not just a box to be ticked:
“The National Restoration Plan is more than an obligation…it is an opportunity to place Portugal at the forefront of European environmental policy.”
The World Conference theme, Restoration in Motion: Bridging Land, Water and People, speaks to this unprecedented opportunity, in Portugal, across Europe, and around the world, to mobilize and collaborate to accelerate ecological restoration.
Building bridges
Like the Tagus, SER2027 is a point of confluence for the global community that must collaborate for the health of our planet and our society. The event convenes expert scientists, seasoned practitioners, senior policymakers, ambitious corporations, motivated funders, and the next generation of changemakers representing communities from over 80 countries around the world. By strengthening these connections, we will accelerate policy development, design innovations for scale, catalyse investment, and build capacity for global restoration.
Join us in Lisbon from 30 August to 3 September 2027 to be a part of the global movement that turns knowledge into action and damage into recovery, one grounded in connectivity, shared stewardship, and collective action across boundaries.
Visit ser2027.org and follow us on social media for updates on the program, speakers, and key dates, including the upcoming Call for Proposals, launching in August.