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October 08, 2002
Zino's Petrel Under Threat
The Portuguese Ministry of Defence has announced plans to build a radar station at the summit of Pico do Areeiro, Madeira, Portugal, site of the only known breeding colonies of Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira, a Critically Endangered species that numbers around 20-30 breeding pairs, and considered to be the rarest breeding species in Europe.
The radar station is part of a wider NATO network, and considered to be of 'national strategic interest'. SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal) is very concerned about any development in close proximity to the breeding ledges of Zino's Petrels and has alerted the Portuguese Ministry of Defence and other governmental agencies about the potential impacts of building and operating a radar station in this area.
In a letter to NATO, BirdLife has called for a full and appropriate assessment to be conducted which takes full account of the requirements and conservation objectives of the European Union's Birds Directive because the proposed site is designated as a Special Protection Area and so has the highest level of protection under European law.
Readers worried about the developments are urged to send polite letters expressing their concerns to:
Prime Minister of Portugal,
Dr Dur Barroso,
Rua da Imprensa strela, 4
1200-888 LISBOA,
Portugal
email: gmapm@mapm.gov.pt
Please cc any correspondence to
Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves,
Rua da Vit 53,
3 Esq.
1100-618 Lisboa,
Portugal,
email: spea@spea.pt
and:
NATO Secretary-General
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
NATO Headquarters
Blvd Leopold III
1110 Brussels
Belgium
Email: natodoc@hq.nato.int
[The above text is adapted from the forthcoming December 2002 issue of BirdLife's World Birdwatch magazine, www.birdlife.net/help/wbwmag.cfm]
Posted by Surfbirds at October 8, 2002 11:18 PM
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