New “illegal avocado planting work”, by a Swedish agricultural investor, in Quinta da Barroquinha, near Cabanas de Tavira, in the heart of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, were denounced by the Tavira in Transition movement.
According to the movement, “despite several complaints to various entities, complaints to the Public Ministry, lawsuits, embargoes and fines, the agricultural investor continues his illegal avocado plantation work, in a repeating, criminal and disobedient manner”.
These works have already been embargoed by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) which reacted on the 14th of October.
Despite this, Tavira em Transição denounces that «SEPNA was also informed several times, but nothing and no one can or wants to stop this gentleman».
“A complaint is also being prepared for the Public Ministry. But in the meantime the plantation is practically finished. Will everything be in cod water again?”, asks the movement.
This situation is not new with the Swedish businessman, who accumulates a huge area of avocado trees in this area of the Natural Park (about 65 hectares within a radius of 1,5 kilometers).
In September 2020, the construction without any license of a series of buildings (which did not exist in 2019, as evidenced by Google Earth images) had already been reported.
In April 2021, it was reported to construction of a two meter high stone wall, a three meter wide road and a fence, all involving illegal land movements and destruction of vegetation cover in the protection strip of the lagoon zone.
Also in June 2021, the same owner continued to fell trees despite an ICNF embargo.
«This situation is shocking and shows the decadence of our public services», concludes the Tavira em Transição movement, in its complaint.
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