Câmara de Tavira, Centro Ciência Viva and Associação Almargem are available to work together to build a more sustainable future for Vale da Asseca and Pego do Inferno. This was one of the commitments made at a meeting that took place this Thursday, at the Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira, promoted within the scope of the REASE project.
After João Santos, from Associação Almargem, having listed the species of flora and fauna present in this area, such as tortoises, otters or shrews, and having warned of some of the threats to biodiversity in the Asseca and Pego do Inferno Valleys, Hélder Pereira, from GeoWalks & Talks, took the dozens of people present on a geological “trip” to the beginnings of that place.
Although the meeting had the Asseca Valley as its theme, Pego do Inferno and its future were the central point of discussion. Rita Borges, director of the Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira, presented the letter of principles for Pego do Inferno, drawn up about three years ago, which had as its starting point an inquiry made to the population.
It was a study that showed that 41% of respondents had visited Pego do Inferno in the last year. A high number that helps to understand that the massive occupation of space, combined with the lack of cleanliness, are some of the problems to be solved.
Since 2012, when, in the fires of Tavira, an access that was built during the term of the then president of the Chamber Macário Correia burned, that, to get to Pego do Inferno, you have to go through, either on private property, or «wetting your feet» , crossing the Ribeira da Asseca.
In a first phase, Jorge Botelho, current mayor of Tavira, admitted to rebuilding the burnt access, but changed his mind, as he revealed at this meeting and how had already told the Sul Informação. At this stage, "the challenge involves renaturalisation," guaranteed the mayor.
According to the mayor, “by the end of the year, Pego do Inferno will be clean, but I can't avoid the tourist loads. Pego do Inferno is in all the guides and people continue to come to Tavira looking to get there».
Difficult access, according to the mayor, can remove some cargo to the place, "because there is always someone who gets lost along the way," he joked.
Suggestions came from the public to close the space, charge entry, or set a daily limit for visitors, but here, too, no agreement was reached.
Even so, there was a consensual decision: to involve the City Council, the Almargem Association, the Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira, the landowners of Vale da Asseca and entities with management responsibility, such as the Portuguese Environment Agency and the ICNF, in a working group that finds solutions to protect the biodiversity of Vale da Asseca and Pego do Inferno.
A solution that, going forward, pleases Associação Almargem: «we have to believe what the mayor said, that we are going to move towards a global perspective, involving all the necessary partners, not only in Pego do Inferno, but in Vale da Asseca », João Santos told the Sul Informação.
For the environmentalist, «a global management of the area is necessary and this has not been possible until now».
Rita Borges, director of the CCV in Tavira, says that this meeting allowed us to understand that “there are changes in perspective. Let's see how the Pego do Inferno renaturalization process will be done. We hope that there will be the ability to start working together. At least that desire to do so was clear on the part of everyone».
Regarding access to space, Rita Borges believes that "however difficult it may be, it is already publicized in such a way that people will continue to search and use it, so we have to think very carefully about how to condition access".
Despite the "very good" balance of the meeting, Rita Borges regretted the absence of some invited entities. "The APA or the ICNF was not present, but whoever was, participated actively, important issues were raised and it was a good debate session", he concluded.
Photos: Nuno Costa | Sul Informação
Comments