João Paulo Catarino was born in Proença-a-Nova in 1969.
He has a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 2009, and a bachelor’s degree in Forestry Production Engineering in 1994.
He began his career in 1992 and coordinated the photo interpreting work for the Charter of Mainland Land Soil Occupation (work undertaken for the former National Geographic Information Centre – CNIG).
In 1994, he joined the ranks of the former Beira Interior Forest Delegation and then moved to the current Nature Conservation Institute, where he was a Forest Technical Engineer.
From 1999 to 2004 he was permanent Councillor at the Proença-a-Nova Town Hall and was charged with civil protection, agro-forestry development, implementing a new accounting plan for local government, environment, private works and the coordination of the Town Hall’s technical office.
From November 2004 to March 2005, he was in charge of the Pinhal Interior Sul Centre Division, which is charged with forests in the area of the Proença-a-Nova, Sertã, Oleiros, Vila de Rei and Mação councils, the current Nature and Forests.
From April to October 2005, he was Assistant to the Secretary of State for Forest Rural Development.
From October 2005 to 4 March he was Mayor of Proença-a-Nova.
Besides being Mayor, he was also: President of the Intermunicipal Council of the Beira Baixa Intermunicipal Community; Chairman of the Board of Directors of ProençaTur, E. M.: Chariman of the Board of Directors of PEPA – Parque Empresarial de Proença-a-Nova, S. A.; President of Pinhal Maior – Association for the Development of Pinhal Interior Sul; Vice-president of the Intermunicipal Community of Pinhal Interior Sul; Member of the Board of Directors of Raia Pinhal; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Intermunicipal Association of Nature and Tagus; and Member of the Board of Directors.
He organised and took part in several association projects.
From March 2016 to July 2017 he was deputy coordinator of the Task Force to Enhance Inland Portugal, and from 18 July 2017, he coordinated the Task Force.
He was Secretary of State for the Enhancement of Inland Portugal in Prime Minister António Costa’s first Government, and Secretary of State for Nature Conservation, Forests and Territorial Planning in Prime Minister António Costa’s second Government.