Portugal civil protection and nature‑guard staffing dispute

In July 2026 the Special Civil Protection Force (FEPC) launched a five‑day nationwide strike over unpaid overtime and delayed compensation from the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC). The SinFAP union demanded immediate payment and ministerial intervention, while ANEPC issued a minimum‑service decree.

Weeks later the focus broadened to staffing and career‑structure concerns in Portugal’s environmental protection services. The Confederation of Environmental Associations highlighted a severe shortage of nature guards at the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), with only 286 guards against a target of 800. Ninety guards signed a letter urging a pause to a June 2026 reform that would replace the nature‑guard career with a Forest and Environmental Guard, citing pay, risk allowances, retirement age and career progression.

In early August 2026 Portugal’s Ministry of Environment and Energy approved €3 million for 18 co‑management projects in protected areas, aiming to boost biodiversity and community participation. The funding announcement coincided with renewed calls from professional associations for urgent recruitment and career‑grade reforms for ICNF guards, underscoring that the staffing shortfall remains a central issue alongside the civil‑protection labour dispute.