The European GREY Deal: building an airport in the heart of Portugal’s largest wetland

https://science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.abe4325

#conservation #biodiversity #ornithology #Lisbon #airport @WaderStudy @RamsarConv @antoniocostapm
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Grey IS NOT Green.

@_JoseAAlves_ & Maria Dias highlight the contradiction:

European Green Deal - plan to shift EU economies to more sustainable models of growth
Portugal’s Grey Deal - permission to build an international airport in the largest wetland in the country
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The new #Lisbon #airport is planned to be at the heart of the Tagus estuary.

This is the second most important wetland for these species in Iberia and hosts the LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS OF WATERBIRDS IN PORTUGAL!

#conservation #biodiversity #ornithology #Lisbon #airport
[3/12]

Tagus estuary IMPORTANCE EXTENDS BEYOND BORDERS:

- Special Protection Area (European Birds Directive)
- Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)
- Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (Birdlife International)
- Nature Reserve (national law)

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Example:
Flocks of 80,000 black-tailed godwits (NEAR THREATENED SPECIES), coming from Iceland, the Netherlands and other northern European countries, use the Tagus to feed and rest during their annual migrations.

#waders #shorebirds #ornithology #conservation
[5/12]

As @_JoseAAlves_ & Maria Dias argue, @govpt DECISION VIOLATES 2 OF THE MAIN PILLARS of the European Green Deal:
1. To tackle the (big) global problem of carbon emissions
2. To reverse the #biodiversity crisis

#conservation #ornithology #Lisbon #airport
[6/12]

Ironically, #Lisbon holds the banner of @EU_GreenCapital, which was awarded also due to its proximity with the Tagus estuary Nature Reserve. A protected area that will be DISRUPTED BY AIRCRAFTS FLYING BELOW 200 METERS, if the #airport is built…

#conservation
[7/12]

More:

@govpt supports @VINCIAirports (private company financing the #airport) on its commitment to move forward.
I.e., a European state attempting to IGNORE CONSERVATION LAWS, international agreements & publicly stated plans for a more sustainable & carbon-neutral future
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Other nations may consider HOLDING PORTUGAL ACCOUNTABLE for the consequences of an #airport in Tagus estuary, as the area supports species that benefit from their own publicly-funded conservation programs.

#conservation #biodiversity
[9/12]

FUZZY EVENTS.

The Environmental Permit was based on a favourable statement by the board of directors at the governmental institution responsible for evaluating impacts on biodiversity, despite contrary recommendation of their own technicians.

https://medium.com/@_JoseAAlves_/the-land-of-make-believe-that-will-certainly-be-made-to-pay-the-bill-14c158de76aa

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•LACK OF DATA
•TECHNICAL ERRORS
•ADOPTION OF SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA
The Environmental Impact Study that preceded the issuing of the environmental permit has been heavily criticized.

More at https://www.waderstudygroup.org/article/13804/ 

#conservation #biodiversity
[11/12]

The authors of the recent Letter in @ScienceMagazine urge @govpt to reconsider the #airport plan & GRAB THE CHANCE TO HAVE #LISBON BECOME EUROPEAN GREEN LEADERS of the movement towards an increasingly sustainable future.

https://science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.abe4325

#STOPTagusAirport
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