The researchers "call for the implementation of urgent measures to, in the future, better capture and manage rainwater", since they predict that between 2046 and 2065, mainland Portugal will suffer a reduction in average annual rainfall of 10% in the north and the entire coast and about 30% in inland areas and the south.

Rainfall forecasts were made by the Physics Department of the UA, and, according to Paula Quinteiro, coordinator of the study, "pressure on rainwater resources is already identified that will increase in the future, indicating that in some situations, depending on the water requirements needed to ensure and maximize the growth of vegetation, measures of management / collection and efficiency of consumption of this rainwater are needed".

The researcher advocates the adoption of rainwater collection systems "in order to ensure their availability for agricultural and forestry irrigation.

Also, the implementation of an integrated planning of land use and availability of rainwater, rivers and aquifers.

In more pressing situations, Paula Quinteiro says that "it may be necessary to reallocate crops to areas with greater availability of rainwater, also taking into account the soil conditions and characteristics of the vegetation in question".