In a statement released from its base in Vila Nova da Barquinha, in the Santarém district, the movement argues that the strategy prioritises the expansion of sectors like agribusiness, banking, construction, and real estate at the expense of environmental sustainability and the well-being of communities.

Submitted as part of the public consultation on the Participa portal, proTEJO’s opposition highlights the risk posed by proposed infrastructure, including new dams, water transfers, and hydraulic systems. According to the group, these projects are being rushed through by a caretaker government, with a short-term, economically driven vision that ignores long-term ecological consequences.

The movement also warns that many of these projects, such as large-scale water transfers between river basins and extensive irrigation plans, lack public consensus and are likely to be underutilised. The proposed “water highways” between the Douro, Mondego, Tejo and Guadiana basins may spread pollution and invasive species, threatening aquatic ecosystems.

Additionally, proTEJO criticises the strategy’s emphasis on irrigation expansion, up to 30% more, without clarity on its purpose or beneficiaries. The group claims the plan neglects sustainable alternatives, such as regenerative agriculture, biodiverse forests, natural engineering solutions, and the restoration of wetlands to improve water infiltration.

Specific regional concerns include the proposed dam in Constância/Praia do Ribatejo, the Tejo-Guadiana basin connection study, and a large new dam on the Ocreza River–all of which proTEJO rejects.

Overall, the movement believes the strategy fails to balance economic goals with ecological and social responsibility, ultimately undermining both medium- and long-term water sustainability for Portugal.