In a statement titled ‘uncontrolled intensive agriculture in the South-west Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park’, Associação Zero said that it had received “many reports” relative to agriculture in this protected area, which straddles the Alentejo and Algarve
regions.
The group said that it had sought clarification from the Institute of Conservation of Nature and of Forests (ICNF) “about the execution of measures and the observance of environmental rules foreseen in the [PNSACV’s] land-use plan” and that “the ICNF recognises that there currently exists a big increase in intensive agricultural activity, with the installation of new greenhouses.”
The ICNF, Associação Zero said, also surmised that “measures and rules” in the land-use plan may either not be being applied - such as the case of environmental certification of farming enterprises and their being informed of the need for practices with less environmental impact - or “are only now taking their first step”, such as where water quality controls go.
“The ICNF recognises that it does not know what the area occupied by greenhouses and [plastic] tunnels is, when there is a limit imposed by law of 30 percent in the Mira Irrigation Perimeter”, the group said, referring to an area covering some 11 percent of the natural park that is particularly known for the intensive cultivation of fruit and vegetables.
The situation, it warned, “is giving rise to complaints and conflicts on the part of resident populations and tourist agents and generating impacts on natural values” with the local and national authorities not reacting fast enough.