Helena Freitas (CFE/TERRA) advocates institutional integrity and legality in nature governance
In an opinion piece published in the Público newspaper, Helena Freitas, coordinator of the Center for Functional Ecology (CFE) and researcher at the TERRA Associate Laboratory, responds to statements made by the Minister of Agriculture to the ICNF, emphasizing the importance of legality, ethics, and technical autonomy in environmental management.
In the text, entitled “ICNF: a natureza não se governa à margem da lei”, (“ICNF: nature cannot be governed outside the law)”, Helena Freitas warns of the risks of political interference in the activities of public institutions with technical and scientific responsibility for nature conservation.
The researcher argues that the ICNF should operate on the basis of legal and technical criteria, protecting its mission from external pressures that could compromise the integrity of decision-making processes. She stresses that “nature cannot be governed outside the law” and that institutional coherence is essential in a context of growing pressure on natural systems and the demand for sustainable public policies.
Helena Freitas’ intervention reflects TERRA researchers’ commitment to promoting public institutions and building sustainable solutions to the ecological and territorial challenges facing the country.
Full article here: publico.pt/2026/01/26/azul/opiniao/icnf-natureza-nao-governa-margem-lei (in Portuguese)
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