{"id":960,"date":"2020-09-09T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T09:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/?p=960"},"modified":"2024-04-04T15:11:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T15:11:57","slug":"carta-aberta-pela-preservacao-do-patrimonio-natural-da-peninsula-de-troiacarta-aberta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/carta-aberta-pela-preservacao-do-patrimonio-natural-da-peninsula-de-troiacarta-aberta\/","title":{"rendered":"Pela Preserva\u00e7\u00e3o do Patrim\u00f3nio Natural da Pen\u00ednsula de Tr\u00f3ia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Movimento Dunas Livres, Setembro de 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Associa\u00e7\u00e3o Dunas Livres <\/strong>wrote this letter to express the concerns, priorities and informed opinions of a citizen group interested in the study and preservation of the landscapes and\necosystems present in the Portuguese shoreline, namely between Tr\u00f3ia and Sines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tr\u00f3ia-Sines coastline is one of the last and most well-preserved areas of the Iberian shore, a unique\nnatural treasure that has, until now, escaped the pressures that are placed on the seaside1<\/sup>. However, the territorial classification does not follow, or safeguard, its unique Natural Heritage. The urbanisation scheduled for the Operational Units of Planning (UNOP \u2013 Unidades Operativas de Planeamento) 4, 7 and 8 are an upfront, assumed and irreversible threat to irreplaceable Natural Heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Map of some of the touristic projects, planned or executed, from the Tr\u00f3ia Pen\u00ednsula\nto Melides.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tr\u00f3ia Peninsula, where these UNOP 4, 7 and 8 are found, is a particularly sensitive estuary formation,\nwith dune and wetland ecosystems that are fundamental from ecological and environmental points of view. Nowadays, we would hope that we would be discussing the expansion of the Natura 2020 network to areas of high ecological interest, and not facilitating its destruction through building licenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest threat to the ecological integrity of the region is the eminent touristic, real estate development of luxury urbanisation scheduled for the UNOP mentioned above. In general, there is a plan for the building of hotels, villages of touristic houses and apartments, as well as other recreational infrastructures or of logistic support. We bring to mind that the Evaluations of Environmental Impact of these projects showed conditioned assessments2,3<\/sup>and whose requests are often considered non applicable2<\/sup>; furthermore, the Evaluations for the projects of UNOP 4 was published over a decade ago3<\/sup>, which is not acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discriminately, the Tr\u00f3ia Eco-Resort planned for UNOP 4 is located in the lagoon known as the Tr\u00f3ia Caldera: a wetland particularly relevant for the species protected by the Birds Directive of the Natura 2020 network44<\/sup>The Touristic Set \u201cNa praia\u201d (\u201cIn the Beach\u201d) in UNOP 7 and 8 will be in dune land adjacent to the Botanical\nReserve of the Dunes of Tr\u00f3ia, with which they share ecological characteristics and whose conservation\nstate is excellent, lacking an appropriate evaluation with up-to-date data.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Dunes of the UNOP 8 of the Urbanistic Plano of Tr\u00f3ia. Photo from June 21, 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This letter shows our surprise and resentment for the absence of these territorial units from the original\ndemarcation of the Natural Reserve of the Sado Estuary, given their ecological characteristics. Objectively, their inclusion seems essential and logical to the success of the conservation goals that led to the classification of the protected area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unregulated urbanisation is a mistake already repeated too many times throughout the Portuguese\nshoreline, and it is unacceptable to do it again. It is especially shocking since it is 2020, and before\ninternational treaties and compromises such as the 2030 Agenda5<\/sup>, the Paris Agreement6<\/sup>the Convention on Biological Diversity7<\/sup> and the new United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restauration (2021-2030).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This association is for Dunas Livres <\/strong>from unsustainable building; it is for the investment in a truly valuable future for local and coming generations; it is for the respect for citizen participation in the structuring decisions in\nPortugal; it is for the defence of a heritage of incalculable value to the World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defence of the unique and irreplaceable natural heritage of the Tr\u00f3ia Peninsula is of everyone\u2019s\nresponsibility. For all that is mentioned in this letter, we request that this whole area be included in the\nNatural Reserve of the Sado Estuary, so that it obtains the conservation status and the protection that it deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Natural Heritage of UNOP 4, 7 and 8, and its most recent threats<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the Tr\u00f3ia Peninsula is an enormous geomorphically dynamic dune. By mediating the border with the Atlantic Ocean, it creates and shelters the Sado Estuary bay, where emblematic flora and fauna inhabits, of which the common-bottlenose-dolphin is the most famous example, or the sea grass prairies, which are getting recognition worldwide. Unfortunately, its integrity might have been recently affected in December of 2019, by the dredging of the port of Set\u00fabal9,10<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The well-developed dunes, which elongate beyond the shoreline, have a fundamental role in protecting\nagainst coastal erosion11,12<\/sup>This role is especially important in this region, due to the threat of the rising sea level and the intrusion of the saline wedge in the Sado Estuary bay1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dune of Tr\u00f3ia are home to several endemic and rare species, including some protected at a European\nlevel by the Habitats Directive of the Natura 2020 network, and many are threatened. It is easy to recognise the presence of these habitats, protected by European Directive13<\/sup>, both dunes and wetlands, and an unusual plant richness in excellent conservation status. We found this exuberant biodiversity most abundant (unfortunately) in lands of the peninsula on which there are plans for urbanisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s not forget also the importance of the maintenance of this dynamic sand formation, covered in vegetation, to the recharge of the Tejo-Sado aquifer, essential to the local and regional populations and economies
regional14<\/sup>. The negligence of the importance of healthy water resources and prudent usage,
above all in sandy and arid regions, is particularly scandalous and expensive to the Portuguese people,
which suffers from recuring droughts.15<\/sup>. Their preservation is, thus, of public interest, which adds more weight to the conservation of this aquifer, especially considering the already advanced urbanisation status of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mission of the Movement for Free Dunes (Dunas Livres)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We believe in the intrinsic and functional value of this remarkable natural heritage, as well as the importance\nof its protection and improvement of its conservation status through adequate management. We exercise\nthe right to manifest our dissatisfaction in regard to the decisions of territorial planning and management\nof this region. We thereby hold that it is our duty, as citizens, to actively participate and demand the\nprotection of these ecosystems due to the services of incalculable value that they provide, for us and for\nfuture generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because we believe that Nature conservation is only compatible with sustainable economic and social\nincentives, benefiting local communities and never existing separate from these, we suggest a review of this region\u2019s development strategy. We defend that the beaches and the surrounding nature must be accessible to all, so that they can be enjoyed in a sustainable way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We request the full protection of the natural and communal values mentioned in this letter, in face of\nexternal pressures that may compromise their integrity, particularly in the coastline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of target-habitats of the Habitat Directive, Natura 2020 network13<\/sup>, seen at UNOP 4, 7 and 8 of the Tr\u00f3ia Peninsula.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type<\/th>Code<\/th>Habitat<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Dune<\/em><\/strong><\/td>1210<\/td>Annual vegetation of the zones of detritus accumulation by the tide<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2110<\/td>Embryonic mobile dunes<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2120<\/td>Mobile coastal dunes with Ammophila arenaria<\/em> (“dunas brancas”)<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2130pt1<\/td>Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (\"grey dunes\")<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2150pt1<\/td>Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno Ulicetea<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2190pt1 and pt2<\/td>Wet interdune depressions<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2230pt1 and pt2<\/td>Dunes with meadows of Malcolmietalia<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2250pt1 and pt2<\/td>Coastal dunes with Juniperus<\/em> spp.<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2260<\/td>Dunes with sclerophyllic vegetation of Cisto-Lavenduletalia<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2270<\/td>Dunas com florestas de Pinus pinea<\/em> e ou Pinus pinaster<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>2330<\/td>Dunas interiores com prados abertos de Corynephorus<\/em> and Agrostis<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Wetlands<\/strong><\/em><\/td>3110<\/td>\u00c1guas oligotr\u00f3ficas muito pouco mineralizadas das plan\u00edcies arenosas (Littorelletalia uniflorae<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>3160<\/td>Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>6420<\/td>Wet Mediterranean meadows of high vegetation of Molinio-Holoschoenion<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>7140pt3<\/td>Transition peat bogs and undulating peat bogs<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REFERENCES<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Filipe, L. G., Gamboa, M. & Sirgado, J. R. Ordenamento do Litoral. A Orla Costeira Sado-Sines.
    in Actas do 4o Congresso da \u00c1gua, Lisboa 1\u201323 (1998).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. RNT_t19082\/00 RECAPE do Conjunto Tur\u00edstico \u201cNa Praia\u201d (UNOP 7 e UNOP 8 do PU de Tr\u00f3ia).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Impacte Ambiental da Ocupa\u00e7\u00e3o Tur\u00edstica da UNOP 4 de Tr\u00f3ia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Diretiva Aves (79\/409\/CEE e 2009\/147\/CE), de 30 de novembro de 2009.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. https:\/\/sustainabledevelopment.un.org\/post2015\/transformingourworld<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. https:\/\/apambiente.pt\/index.php?ref=16&subref=81&sub2ref=1367<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. http:\/\/www2.icnf.pt\/portal\/pn\/biodiversidade\/ei\/cbd<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. https:\/\/nacoesunidas.org\/onu-declara-decada-sobre-restauracao-de-ecossistemas\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. https:\/\/www.pan.com.pt\/pan-pede-revogacao-da-autorizacao-para-as-dragagens-no-sado\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. https:\/\/observador.pt\/2019\/12\/03\/dragagens-no-estuario-do-sado-comecam-na-semana-de-9-
    a-15-de-dezembro\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Moore, L. J. & Murray, A. B. Barrier dynamics and response to changing climate. (Springer,
    2018).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. Coastal Dune Management: A Manual of
    Coastal Dune Management and Rehabilitation Techniques. (2001).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Diretiva Habitats 92\/43\/CEE do Conselho, de 21 de maio de 1992.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Oliveira da Silva, M. Comportamento da Interface \u00c1gua Doce \/ \u00c1gua Salgada na Pen\u00ednsula de
    Tr\u00f3ia Utilizando o Modelo Matem\u00e1tico Feflow. in (2006).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. https:\/\/sicnoticias.pt\/pais\/2020-01-08-Quase-40-de-Portugal-continental-mantem-se-em-situacao-de-seca<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Movimento Dunas Livres, Setembro de 2020 A Associa\u00e7\u00e3o Dunas Livres vem desta forma expressar as preocupa\u00e7\u00f5es, prioridades e opini\u00f5es informadas de um grupo de cidad\u00e3os interessados no estudo e preserva\u00e7\u00e3o das paisagens e ecossistemas presentes no litoral Portugu\u00eas, nomeadamente entre Tr\u00f3ia e Sines. Esta faixa costeira Tr\u00f3ia-Sines \u00e9 uma das \u00faltimas e mais bem preservadas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":953,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comunicados"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=960"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/960\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1096,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/960\/revisions\/1096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dunaslivres.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}