The Ministers of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, and of Agriculture and the Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, signed a joint order that significantly reduces the timeframes for the evaluation and payment of compensation to livestock producers affected by Iberian wolf attacks. The measure takes effect on January 1, 2027, establishing a maximum timeframe of 20 working days for the assessment of damages and requiring that payments be made by the end of the immediately following month.
The Government justifies the decision with the impact that administrative delays have on the populations of the territories where the Iberian wolf lives, exacerbating the economic impact of attacks, especially on smaller farms and extensive production systems. Maria da Graça Carvalho emphasized that "protecting the Iberian wolf is also protecting those who live and work in the territories where this species is present," arguing that it makes no sense to ask populations to coexist with the protected species and, in case of damage, leave them waiting for months for compensation.
José Manuel Fernandes highlighted that this is a "simpler, more agile and fairer" model, reminding that shepherds "contribute to food security, territorial cohesion and civil protection." The measure includes a broader reinforcement of the compensation scheme, which included the clarification of technical aspects, the update of maximum values per animal and the expansion of compensable situations, such as the disappearance of animals and cases of animals less than one month old.
Operationalization will be the responsibility of ICNF and IFAP, which have the coming months to adapt their technical, IT and financial procedures.
