On June 22, members of the +Pinhal Board were heard at a meeting of the Specialized Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, Environment, Social Facilities, Heritage and Mobility of the Ovar Municipal Assembly. The meeting aimed to gather contributions regarding the management of the Ovar Dunes Forest Perimeter.
The Association shared its concerns and highlighted the impacts of interventions carried out in recent years in the Pine Forest, both by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) and by local authorities.
The Association presented the Committee with what it considers to be contradictions in the ICNF's intentions regarding its Forest Management Plan, as well as examples of interventions carried out in the Pine Forest which, in its view, have contributed to the rapid degradation of this area. These interventions may have consequences for future generations, particularly through the significant reduction of tree cover, the destruction of the forest understory, including emblematic regional species such as the Camarinha, and the spread of invasive plant species.
+Pinhal also presented proposals for intervention, highlighting the importance of the municipality in the management of the territory entrusted to it through a close, collaborative and participatory approach. The Association also advocated encouraging companies with appropriate training and equipment to carry out work suited to the specific conditions of the Ovar dune pine forest.