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.