Environmentalists oppose Volta a Portugal route through protected national park

Environmental organisations have voiced strong opposition to a stage of this year’s Volta a Portugal cycling race passing through the Peneda-Gerês National Park, warning that the event could disturb one of the country’s most sensitive protected areas.

The criticism centres on the seventh stage of the 87th Volta a Portugal, scheduled for August 13, which is set to travel from Vieira do Minho through Caniçada, Rio Caldo and Vila do Gerês before climbing to Portela de Leonte and crossing the Mata da Albergaria on its way to Portela do Homem.

The Mata da Albergaria, one of the park’s best-preserved native forests, lies within the Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal’s only national park and a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

The Portuguese Association for Biodiversity Conservation (FAPAS) said it was “deeply concerned” about the planned route.

“We have nothing against the Volta a Portugal, but we do care deeply about the defence of our only National Park: its biodiversity, landscape, local culture, rural tourism and many other values that the National Park must safeguard,” the organisation said.

FAPAS stressed that its concern was not the cyclists themselves, but the large convoy accompanying the race.

“It will not only be the cyclists crossing the Mata da Albergaria, one of the most sensitive areas of the park, but also a large and noisy entourage of cars, motorcycles, loudspeakers, sirens and spectators,” the association said.

It argued that there are “plenty of mountainous locations in Portugal” where the race could have been held without entering a protected area, accusing the government of “deep environmental illiteracy”.

Calls for answers

FAPAS has asked Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) to clarify whether the necessary environmental opinion was issued before the route was approved.

“We want the ICNF’s opinion to be made public, if one was issued at all,” the association said, adding that the situation would be “even more serious” if no opinion had been sought.

Fellow environmental organisation Zero has also called for clarification from both the Portuguese Cycling Federation and the ICNF, questioning what authorisations were granted for the race to pass through areas subject to the park’s highest levels of environmental protection.

UNESCO-protected landscape

Covering around 70,000 hectares across parts of the Braga, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real districts, Peneda-Gerês is Portugal’s only national park and forms part of the UNESCO-listed Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve. It is recognised for its rich biodiversity, mountain landscapes, traditional village communities and wildlife including the wild Garrano horse.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.