According to a statement from the party, which last week filed
a complaint with the Public Ministry on this matter, the site is home to “one
of the only wetlands” in the region and has been “being destroyed” for weeks,
with the approval of the Câmara de Lagoa, to make way for a commercial
enterprise.
In the injunction filed, the suspension of the work is
required, as it is likely to cause and is already causing “serious and
irreparable damage to environmental, historical, landscape and identity values,
protected by current law”, reads the note.
“We don't understand
how the municipality of Lagoa, contrary to what studies, experts and even the
Algarve Regional Development and Coordination Commission itself, gave its
approval to destroy this green stronghold in favour of a commercial enterprise,
which can and must be built elsewhere”, criticises the PAN spokeswoman, quoted
in the statement.
For Inês de Sousa Real, “it is a pity that, at this time and
with all the scientific and climatic evidence, not all of our political leaders
are committed to the preservation of natural values and the fight against the
climate crisis”.
“Environmental attack”
The only elected member of the PAN in the Assembly of the
Republic argues that we are “facing an environmental attack with the green
light of the municipality, which not only should have been negotiated with the
promoter of the work in order to find another location, but also should have
fought for the classification of Alagoas Brancas as a protected zone”.
“On the part of the PAN party, we will make use of all the
instruments provided for by law in the name of the conservation of Alagoas
Brancas”, said Inês de Sousa Real.
PAN cites a study carried out in 2019, financed by the
Environmental Fund, according to which 114 species of birds were identified in
Alagoas Brancas alone, highlighting the presence of at least 01% of the national
caiman breeding population and 01% of the regional population (Mediterranean,
Black Sea and West Africa) of Ibis Preta.
The party also assures that there are also “species with
unfavourable conservation status, such as the striped-shelled tortoise
classified as 'endangered' and the Turkish gecko, classified as 'vulnerable',
which are being buried at the site as a result of the earthworks in progress”.
The initial project was approved in 2009 and went through the
licensing phases provided for by law to allow the granting of the permit and
the subdivision, according to the Lagoa Chamber.
I hope this party lives up to its name and pushes through changes that protect animals and nature - they are the ones often losing when it comes to decision-making and planned projects.
By Annie from Algarve on 09 Nov 2022, 18:27