The arms and ideas of the members of the Citizens Group for the Tavira Agricultural Experimentation Center (CEA Tavira) are at the disposal of the Algarve Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries (DRAP Algarve), to help revitalize this centre, where a unique collection of traditional algarvian fruit trees.
The movement expressed its willingness to help DRAP and this entity gladly accepted the gesture, admitting, in the future, to accept the collaboration of citizens in whatever proves necessary.
Even so, warned Pedro Valadas Monteiro, regional director of Agriculture and Fisheries, in statements to Sul Informação, "it is out of the question" the transfer of management or even co-management of the center, which will continue, exclusively, in the sphere of DRAP.
In a press release, the group of citizens said they had presented a proposal to the regional direction, "in the sense that that space should be preserved and revitalized in order to fulfill the mission for which it was created".
The document "includes the possibility of joint work with citizens who, voluntarily and free of charge, are willing to value and revive a paradigmatic space in the region."
And there were several actions proposed by the movement, which emerged to contesting a project that provided for the crossing of the CEA in Tavira by a road, within the scope of the contract for the electrification of the Algarve Line – which in the meantime has already been annulled.
From the outset, the «carrying out of a survey of the space, resources, activities and main constraints of CEAT, making this group available to collaborate in this action in partnership and in tune with DRAP Algarve technicians».
Citizens also offered to draw up "a list of possible partners and patrons who might be involved in the revitalization of CEAT", between public and private entities.
The «establishment of a strategy to raise awareness and involve these institutions and the population in general for the importance of CEAT at regional and national level and of the genetic heritage that it integrates» are other proposals.
Finally, the group made itself available for the «construction of a global project, for the existing agricultural and building area, of phased implementation in the short, medium and long term, integrating strategic, public and private partners, including the preparation of applications for funding under the next Financial Support Framework (CSF), the Marshal plan and other national and European funds».
However, they say, the director of DRAP do Algarve replied to them, "saying that he accepts our cooperation and co-creation for the revitalization of CEA de Tavira".
Pedro Valadas Monteiro stressed, however, that "there is no agreement or protocol here" and that his response to the citizens' proposal was to "thank them for their concern and suggestions and say that we were touched by the support" offered.
As for the proposal itself, the regional director for Agriculture and Fisheries admits that he accepts some of the suggestions, but there are suggestions that he immediately puts aside.
After all, many of the things that are suggested “are even part of what we already do at CEA de Tavira”.
On the other hand, the director of DRAP also welcomes the fact that citizens are proposing "to find funding and patrons, for some of the constraints we have there" or to recover the buildings in the center, as well as "help to publicize what we do here».
“The issue of creating a plot for community gardens is also something that can go forward. It can be something in a register of organic farming or even other more ecological forms of production, such as permaculture, with the support of our technicians», admitted Pedro Valadas Monteiro, in statements to our newspaper.
There may even be “some training of people, for example, in organic farming”.
"In the same way, there is a motion approved in the Municipal Assembly of Tavira, which proposes that things be done that we also want, such as a Museum of the Earth, an Interpretation Center for the Mediterranean Diet and a Farm for Living Science."
"Any initiatives they have that fit into this are welcome," according to DRAP.
Still, there are suggestions that the regional director rejects out of hand. One is the creation of a community orchard, something he considers to be nonsense, warning that the collection of traditional fruit trees and other existing projects will be exclusively managed by the house's specialized technicians and will remain closed to the general public.
Another is the creation of a physical maintenance circuit and everything that goes with bringing people into the center in an uncontrolled manner, for safety reasons.
"This will never be an urban park, nor a public garden, nor a property handed over to the community," he concluded.
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