CFE researcher and TERRA member Jorge Paiva warns of the impact of deforestation on flooding in an opinion piece in Público
Jorge Paiva, a researcher at the Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) and member of the TERRA Associate Laboratory, published an opinion piece in the Público newspaper entitled “Montanhas rochosas e inundações”, (“Rocky mountains and floods”) in which he reflects on the structural causes that have increased the vulnerability of Portugal to extreme phenomena, such as the recent floods.
In the text, available exclusively to subscribers, the botanist emphasizes that the deforestation of Portuguese mountains — many of which have now been transformed into “rocky deserts” — is among the factors that exacerbate the country’s unpreparedness to deal with severe weather events.
The researcher recalls that for more than half a century, the scientific community has been warning policymakers about the consequences of climate change and the lack of adequate land use planning. However, as he points out in the article, these warnings have often been dismissed as “exaggerations by environmentalists,” an attitude that, according to the CFE/TERRA researcher, has contributed to the current situation.
Jorge Paiva’s reflection reinforces the importance of integrating scientific knowledge into land management and public policy-making. For the TERRA Associate Laboratory, this type of contribution is essential to promoting informed debate and supporting science-based solutions.
Article published at https://www.publico.pt/2026/02/23/ciencia/opiniao/montanhas-rochosas-inundacoes-2165438 (full content exclusively for subscribers, in Portuguese)
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