Guards from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) were in Cacela Velha this morning to see the works to open an access to the Ria Formosa, which is being created between a private land and the lagoon area.
This was confirmed by Joaquim Castelão Rodrigues, ICNF regional director in the Algarve, to Sul Informação. "We went to the site, but found the machine stopped and without anyone," he said.
"We will continue to go there and we will remain attentive," he added. This responsible assured the Sul Informação that the ICNF did not give “any authorization” to carry out the work. What our newspaper found, no other entity gave authorization.
The land where access was being opened is the same where, two years ago, a clearing was carried out which completely changed the vegetation cover, in an area of Agricultural Reserve (RAN) and National Ecological Reserve (REN), within the perimeter of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Then, as now, the ICNF was also taken by surprise. A representative of the owner claimed that the felling of trees, some of them olive trees and centenary carob trees, intended to protect the ground from fires, but the Ministry of Environment denied this possibility.
It was even talked about intention to impose a hefty fine, but after a few months, the owner, a Frenchman, was only required to replace the felled trees.
A local source told our newspaper that the owner "just moved the centenary olive trees around and planted a lot of things on the edge of the land." Several paths were also opened between the trees.
This time, ICNF intervened the day after yesterday a person has denounced the opening of access on Facebook, publishing several photos that showed the work in progress.
Luís Rodrigues, president of Vila Nova de Cacela Parish Council, accompanied the ICNF visit this morning. “We were looking for the place and we found it there. What they were doing was to open some paths through the worst, over the pits that were there. It is not clear what it is, nor is the work finished," said the mayor to the Sul Informação.
When they were there, the machine was no longer working, perhaps “because photos were posted on Facebook yesterday”. However, it was possible to verify that the machine was “stopped over there on the farm”.
After having photographed the works, the ICNF watchmen will now make a report, to serve as a basis for the decision on the intervention. Contacted by our newspaper, Joaquim Castelão Rodrigues did not know yet what this decision will be.
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