Portugal: Salgados/Pera Marsh update

An update on the threats to Salgados/Pera Marsh, in the Algarve, from Frank McClintock:

"I saw a great quote the other day on Facebook; it went, �If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito�. It�s so appropriate right now I quote it again, as our little petition to try to save Salgados has had the most amazing effect!

We started the petition because we thought someone had to stand up and say �ENOUGH!� and if no-one else was going to, well, it might as well be us, but we never thought that it�d be as successful as it has been. It�s gone right around the world � and then some � continues to grow and grow and has had really great consequences.

First of all, it�s raised awareness of the issue and put Salgados on the map as far as a groundswell of opinion against further development of this fragile area is concerned, but it�s done much, much more.

On a purely practical and immediate level, the waters at the lagoon are rising to where they should be at last, though unfortunately too late for this year�s breeding success as a great number of birds didn�t make it. 

On a longer term note the Ramsar Convention has written a letter to the Portuguese Government. This is really quite an achievement and has been generated uniquely by the raised awareness engendered by the petition.

There have been some organisations that have really helped the petition along the road, principally of course Avaaz themselves, but notably also the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust that have pulled out all the stops to grant it more publicity, so a very big thank you to them and to SPEA too who are right there and have been since the beginning.

So, what happens now?

Well, the effort continues, so if you have friends who haven�t yet signed the petition, beat them around the head until they do, that�s the first thing! Only with the petition growing steadily but surely can we give the NGOs the tool with which to fight for greater protection of the site and a rescindment of the building permission already granted. This is seriously important.

I, Frank McClintock, will have the petition available on my stand at the British Birdwatching Fair for anyone to sign who wishes - Stand 93 in Marquee 4, "Birding in Portugal" - and I will also be giving a lecture about the issue on Friday afternoon at 5 pm in the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.

Also, we've organised a day of protest at the site itself, so if you�re in Portugal come along to Salgados on the 6th August at 14.00 and join in � the more the merrier. We'll be there from 11.00 onwards at the Dunas Caf� on the western shore. See you there!?"