Lidl Portugal funds restoration of storm damaged forest in Leiria

Lidl Portugal provided 100,000 euros to restore the Mata Nacional do Valado dos Frades, a coastal forest in the Leiria district of Portugal.

The funding comes from the Tartaruga solidarity bags to repair damage caused by Storm Cristine, which hit the region in January 2026. Lidl Portugal partnered with the WWF and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) to manage the restoration of 25 hectares of land.

The project aims to regenerate the territory by removing fallen wood to reduce fire risks and controlling invasive species like acacia and chorão. The WWF says the work also focuses on promoting biodiversity, recovering degraded habitats, and increasing the resilience of the ecosystem. The intervention involves a one year timeline to reduce fuel loads and return the area to its previous state.

While the work focuses on the forest, Lidl Portugal also intends to provide local municipalities and parishes with tools to manage future weather events. The ICNF says the project provides human resources and labor to manage the large area while encouraging the public to visit and protect the site.