Political Party Warns of Commercial Threat to Public Nature
The Portuguese political party Livre is calling on society to oppose government plans to privatize hiking trails across the island. In a public statement, party spokesperson Marta Sofia described the proposal as “an attack on public natural heritage and a dangerous opening to turning the territory into a commodity for short-term tourist interests.”
The party is encouraging people to sign a petition and remain actively engaged in stopping what it sees as a serious threat to the island’s nature and public access. So far, more than 800 people have signed.
"Foreign Models Don’t Fit the Island,” Livre Says
The regional government has defended the idea by pointing to similar models used in other countries. Livre disagrees with this comparison. According to the party, Madeira’s small size and sensitive ecosystems make it a unique case where foreign solutions do not apply.
What might work in other countries, with completely different size and reality, cannot be applied mechanically to an island with fragile ecosystems and limited territory
Worries About Public Access and Environmental Damage
Livre argues that privatizing trails could result in people having to pay more to access natural areas that are currently free. The party also warns that private companies focused on tourism could overuse the land, causing damage to protected ecosystems. Over time, local residents could lose their connection to areas that have long been part of their way of life.
The party insists that the current public system already supports the maintenance and protection of these trails. The Institute for Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), a public body, already charges entrance fees at several trail locations.
The IFCN already charges entry fees at several trails, generating public revenue that can — and should — be used for preserving, maintaining, and protecting ecosystems," the statement reads. “This fund can also be used to strengthen essential staff, such as nature rangers and forest police, whose presence on the ground is key to protecting the territory and ensuring balanced nature tourism management.
Referendum Considered as a Last Resort
Livre also raises legal concerns about whether public land can be handed over to private companies for commercial purposes. The party believes this proposal shows a lack of responsibility by the government.
When a government gives up its responsibility to manage and protect natural land, it is not innovating — it is admitting its own incompetence. Privatizing the trails is accepting that it failed in its most basic duty: to protect the common good.
Livre insists the plan must be stopped - even if it means calling a regional referendum.
Even if a regional referendum is needed, this measure must be stopped. Madeira’s natural heritage - the levadas, veredas, and trails — is part of our collective identity and must remain under public management, with free, safe, and democratic access
What The Petition Says - English Translation
See: https://peticaopublica.com/mobile/pview.aspx?pi=PT125916
We, citizens concerned with the protection of the natural, cultural, and social heritage of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, express our opposition to any attempt to privatize, grant concessions, or unjustly restrict public access to the island’s natural trails — including the famous levadas, veredas, and rural paths.
These trails are more than just pathways; they are a unique historical legacy and serve as spaces for recreation, environmental education, and sustainable tourism. They are used daily by local residents and visited by thousands of tourists who seek authenticity, natural landscapes, and the freedom to enjoy a common good.
Privatization — whether direct or disguised as concessions — poses a serious threat:
To the free movement of people;
To Madeira’s cultural identity;
To environmental protection, if management is driven by purely commercial interests;
To social fairness, by creating unequal access to something that has always belonged to everyone.
We reject the idea that the only way to protect these trails is by turning them into paid or exclusive experiences.
We call on the Regional Government of Madeira to:
Guarantee free, public, and universal access to all natural trails in the region;
Disclose all plans, contracts, and studies related to any concessions or privatization proposals;
Promote sustainable models of trail maintenance and land management, involving local communities and environmental experts;
Establish permanent legal guarantees to protect Madeira’s natural heritage and the rights of its people.
Madeira’s natural heritage belongs to everyone. We sign this petition in defense of a just, accessible, and sustainable future for all who love our island.
Source: Diário de NotĂcias da Madeira
Care for a share?
Comments