Environmental associations ask that the environmental authorization that was issued for a macro pig farm in the municipality of Monteagudo de las Vicarías, in Soria, which would have a quota of 6,990 places and would be located in a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA).
SEO/BirdLife has filed a formal complaint before the Contentious-Administrative Court No. 1 of Soria, requesting the annulment of the environmental authorization granted for the installation of a pig farm with 6,990 breeding places. breeding stock in the municipality of Monteagudo de las Vicarías.
This farm is located in the Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) ES40000363 “Monteagudo de las Vicarias” which is integrates into the Natura 2000 Network. This is an area of great ornithological importance, where priority bird species for conservation are found, linked to the agro-steppe and aquatic habitats of the area.
Among them there are at least 26 species of protected birds included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime (21) or the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species (5), being an area for feeding, camping or even reproductionof threatened species such as the Egyptian vulture, the Montagu’s harrier, the osprey, the sandgrouse or the little bustard, the latter of which is in danger of extinction.
Macrofarm in a ZEPA
On the other hand, the macrofarm would occupy one of the habitats of community interest of importance for fauna and for this SPA, such as HIC 6220* – Substeppic areas of grasses and annuals of Thero-Brachypodietea. We find this priority habitat (among other places) in the natural vegetation to the north of the plot where the exploitation is intended to be built.
The organization argues that the administrative resolution to authorize the project ignores serious environmental risks. The environmental impact study, the basis of said authorization, suffers from multiple errors and inconsistencies and omits detailed analysis of protected species in the area.
Furthermore, the organization denounces that the manure management plan that the macrofarm will generate does not evaluate the effect of this waste on the surrounding ecosystems, which could mean ignore impacts on existing aquifers and affect both the “Monteagudo de las Vicarias” SPA and the threatened species.
In the lawsuit presented by the NGO, it highlights that these defects, together with the fragmentation of the project into several farms, have not meant a adequate environmental impact assessment and joint of the various synergistic effects.
The organization urges that authorization be withdrawn for avoid irreparable damage to the environment and protected bird specieshighlighting that its protection is a conservation commitment at European level.
According to David de la Bodega Zugasti, head of the NGO’s Legal Program, “Conservation is not at odds with economic activity. There are forms of development that respect and protect nature and, in fact, they are more sustainable production models over time. “We need projects that prioritize these practices over intensive models that compromise the health of the soil, water and air.”
The organization declared that it has a firm commitment to collaboration with administrations and productive sectors to find alternatives that respect the environment and are at the same time a source of wealth, but that requires compliance and reinforcement of the regulations that protect spaces such as the Natura Network. 2000, which is a guarantee tool to preserve the rich biodiversity of Spain and Europe.
The space in question is home to at least 26 species of birds, being an area of great importance for threatened species such as the Egyptian vulture, the Montagu’s harrier, the osprey, the sandgrouse or the little bustard, the latter In Danger of Extinction.