Quercus opposes felling of 1,400 cork oaks in Covilhã
Environmental group Quercus has denounced plans by Covilhã's municipal council to cut down around 1,400 cork oaks, including centuries-old trees, to expand the Tortosendo Industrial Park. The plan is part of the municipal master plan revision, under public consultation until 4 September. The area also includes about ten homes whose residents would face expropriation, two watercourses, three ponds and several water springs. Quercus argues existing industrial plots are already half-empty, questions the need for expansion, and criticises the council for omitting the cork oaks from official constraint maps despite being formally notified by ICNF. It is calling on authorities to reject the plan.
Century-old protected pine tree falls in Setúbal
A century-old pine tree, protected by the ICNF, fell yesterday afternoon in a green area near Rua Engenheiro Henri Perron in Vanicelos, Setúbal, causing no injuries. The tree collapsed onto nine parked cars after its roots failed. Firefighters, municipal civil protection staff, police and two city councillors responded to the scene, with a total of 23 personnel and seven vehicles involved in the removal operation. The municipality has begun collecting information from the affected car owners to arrange repairs as quickly as possible.
PS-Madeira leader demands year-round wildfire prevention strategy
Célia Pessegueiro, leader of PS-Madeira, criticised the Regional Government during a visit to Terreiro da Luta for failing to properly maintain firebreak zones around Funchal, where she noted overgrown vegetation. She said occasional machine clearing is insufficient and called for a permanent, year-round fire prevention strategy. Pessegueiro proposed greater use of directed grazing and transhumance to keep the terrain maintained continuously, arguing that the government relies too heavily on mechanical and aerial firefighting resources rather than sustained ground-level prevention.
Almodôvar named top solar potential site in new renewables map
A new national sectoral programme mapping zones with potential for renewable energy projects has included the Baixo Alentejo region for the first time. Almodôvar stands out with 1,634.75 hectares identified for solar photovoltaic power, more than half of the 2,742.45 hectares marked across the three Baixo Alentejo municipalities covered. Across the wider Alentejo, 19,396 hectares were identified for solar and 4,941 for wind energy. The designation is purely a planning tool: no solar plant has been approved, licensed or authorised, and any future project will still need environmental, energy and urban permits, with municipalities able to exclude or reduce areas.
Alenquer council opposes planned biomethane plant in Marés
Alenquer's municipal council has issued an unfavourable opinion on a proposed biomethane plant in Marés, citing concerns over odours, traffic, safety and the condition of the EN1/IC2 road. The €20.5 million project by Gás da Terra would process 230 tonnes of livestock waste daily, producing biogas and biomethane while cutting an estimated 437,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Mayor João Nicolau said the 2025 approval only covered a preliminary information request, not construction. The project is in public consultation until 15 September, with the council seeking alternative sites farther from homes and preparing its own submission.
