Use of SNIG as a Critical Infrastructure for Land Reclassification Decisions

Abstract

The growing pressure to reclassify rural land in Portugal demands robust legal and technical foundations. This article examines the National Geographic Information System (SNIG) as a critical infrastructure for the revision of Municipal Master Plans and for the application of the exceptional regime introduced by Decree-Law No. 117/2024. The methodology combines SNIG data with complementary sources – Cadastral Registry, National Agricultural Reserve (RAN), National Ecological Reserve (REN), and areas classified by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) – in order to identify normative overlaps and land use conflicts. The results reveal inconsistencies between administrative deliberations and the physical-legal boundaries of the territory, exposing risks of nullity of administrative acts and legal uncertainty. The article argues that the absence of mandatory normative articulation with SNIG undermines transparency, predictability, and the legality of public decisions. It ultimately defends the binding integration of SNIG into reclassification procedures as a condition for sustainable land planning, consistent with the INSPIRE Directive and the principles of good governance.