The environmental organization Quercus publicly denounced the intention of Covilhã City Council to fell around 1400 cork oaks, including dozens of centenarian trees, to proceed with the expansion of the Tortosendo Industrial Park. The felling is part of the ongoing revision of the municipality's Municipal Master Plan.
The cork oak is a species protected by law in Portugal, which means its felling is subject to specific regulations. Quercus stressed that the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) and the Coordination Commission for Regional Development of Centro (CCDR-Centro) have the legal obligation to enforce this protection.
The environmental organization considered the destruction of such a high number of cork oaks unacceptable, highlighting the ecological and heritage value of these trees. The proposed felling comes in the context of an industrial expansion project in the municipality of Covilhã, which has faced criticism from environmental groups.
