Portugal: Green Energy Plans in Sines Call for Destruction of Protected Cork Oaks

A cork oak is harvested after about 25 years. It grows a thin layer of bark every year. After the bark is removed, it takes about nine years for it to become thick enough to harvest again. Each tree is marked with the last digit of the year in which the harvest was carried out. Over the course of a cork oak's 150- to 200-year-lifespan, it can be harvested about 15 times. (Photo from MicroFluo)

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Deforestation of about 30 hectares in the Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone (ZILS) would destroy mainly pine trees but also protected cork oaks in the Alentejo region. Also, two species of other protected flora and three species of at-risk or endemic flora have been identified in the area.

The total area of the deforestation project would cover 74.83 hectares, according to the management company, AICEP Global Parques, in the 21-page Deforestation of Area 1A3 of ZILS Executive Project Environmental Impact Study, Volume 1 – Non-Technical Summary (April 2025).

The land has been subdivided into four adjoining plots. This environmental impact assessment concerns the easternmost plot, designated as 1A3.4.

The 30.27 hectare-plot of land in the Sines industrial zone would be used by Repsol Polímeros for the installation of photovoltaic panels and provide access to China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology (CALB) and Madoqua hydrogen projects. The parcel, which also accommodates Euroresinas - Indústrias Químicas, would include a new roundabout.

The Deforestation of Area 1A3 of ZILS project is available for public comment from May 16 to June 30.

Legislation imposes heavy fines for damage or improper management of cork oaks. For example, it is not permitted to fell cork oaks whose trunk perimeter is less than 70 centimeters (28 inches) and is at 130 centimeters (51 inches) from the ground, with some exceptions, states Decree-Law No. 169/2001, of May 25.

Cork oak is found in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. Portugal has the largest collection of cork oaks, according to Rainforest Alliance, which elaborated on cork oak forests:

"Plant diversity is higher (in cork oak forests) than in many other forest regions of the world, with almost 135 different plant species per square kilometer. The diversity extends to animal life, including some critically endangered species such as the Iberian lynx, the Barbary deer (of North Africa) and the Iberian imperial eagle."

The cork, which covers the tree's trunk and branches, make it more resistant to fire. In addition, cork oaks help prevent soil erosion from wind and water. In Portugal, they also help act as a barrier to the advancing process of desertification from North Africa.

According to the Deforestation of Area 1A3 of ZILS environmental impact assessment:

"Overall, the project will involve the felling of a total of 2,475 cork oaks, of which only 10% (254 cork oaks) are adults and the remaining 2,221 are young,”

"In terms of the allocation of cork oaks, the implementation of a compensation plan involving the planting of new cork oaks is guaranteed , as indicated in the legislation."

"In the same area of the deforestation project under study, three species of RELAPE flora (Rare, Endemic, Localized, Threatened or Endangered plants) and two species of protected flora were identified, which are found in localized clusters."

"In the area of analysis, 7,775 specimens of maritime pine (adults) and 1,393 specimens (young), 2,015 specimens of eucalyptus (adults) and 1,232 specimens of stone pine (adults) were counted" for a total of 12,415. "As regards eucalyptus, maritime pine and stone pine, no serious symptoms of diseases or pests were identified, generally presenting a good vegetative state.

"The predominance of maritime pine-based stands is recorded (43.4%), followed by areas of mature stone pine stands (23.4%) and scrubland and pastures (24.7%) and, to a residual extent, eucalyptus (3.6%), young maritime pine (2.3%) and acacia (1.0%).

“Regarding cork oaks and holm oaks, the fieldwork carried out identified a total of 3,472 cork oaks in the area under analysis, of which 2,809 are young and 663 are adults. No holm oaks were identified. Regarding the phytosanitary status, most of the trees are healthy, with the exception of 92 dead trees and 25 decrepit trees. Furthermore, 1,556 cork oaks are less than 1 m tall."

The deforestation project would “create access to important Projects of National Interest (PIN)”, such as the bordering parcel for China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology (CALB), (1A3.3); Madoqua NH3, for ammonia production from hydrogen, (1A3.1), and Madoqua Power 2X, for hydrogen production, (1A3.2), according to the Deforestation of Area 1A3 of ZILS Executive Project Environmental Impact Study, Volume 1 – Non-Technical Summary.

Public participation on the Madoqua Power 2X project began on June 20 and ends on July 31.

Projects of National Interest (PINs) are initiatives recognized by the government as having a significant impact on the country's economic and social development. These projects receive streamlined administrative procedures and may be eligible for incentives, according to the Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP).

For the first time, the European Commission also has adopted a similar fast-track policy on projects of European interest with a list of strategic projects to boost domestic strategic raw materials capabilities: 47 projects of which four are in Portugal -- three for lithium and one for copper -- all of which will benefit from "simplified licensing provisions", according to the EC (March 25).

One of the four European Commission projects, the Lift One, or Liftium, lithium refinery in Estarreja, is open to public consultation from June 24 until July 14.

The Deforestation of Area 1A3 of ZILS' environmental impact assessment highlighted the following reasons for this project to receive approval:

1. Project of National Interest status;

   
   

2. Approval of deforestation on other parcels, such as the bordering China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology parcel. The Madoqua Power 2X project is available for public consultation from June 20 until July 31.

   
   

3. And contribution to the success of the national and European strategy to decarbonize the economy.

The deforestation operation is expected to take place over a maximum period of three months. It would involve a maximum of 12 workers at the same time.

The traffic of heavy vehicles associated with the transportation of timber and biomass to their final destination would be four vehicles per day. Existing roads would be used for transportation.

The entity responsible for the Environmental Impact Assessment is the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Alentejo).

How to Comment Until June 30

First, you must register if you have not already done so. If you have, go to number 8:

1. Click on Registo in the upper right-hand corner,

2. Click on Individual;

3. Fill in your name, email, password, confirmation of password and, from a dropdown menu, your concelho (municipality);

4. Tick the Agreement with Conditions on the bottom left-hand corner;

5. Click Submeter (Submit) in the bottom right-hand corner;

6. You will receive an email;

7. Choose the issue, Projecto da Deflorestação da Àrea 1A3 da Zona Industrial e Logística de Sines (ZILS);

8. There are three mustard yellow boxes: Participiar (Participate), Seguir (Follow) and Partilhar (Share);

9. Click on the first and choose from a drop-down menu. Click on DISCORDANCIA if you object and CONCORDANCIA if you support it.

10. Add text;

11. Click on Submeter;

12. Done.