In a statement, the independent citizens' movement “Together Let's Save the Cork Oaks of Morgavel” and the cooperative Regenerativa, indicate that these trees “are being felled illegally” despite the process still taking place in the Administrative and Fiscal Court (TAF) of Beja.

“Despite the case being in court, and the cuts being illegal, hundreds of cork oaks in Sines have already been cut down in recent days”, says the movement which, in a recent visit to the site, confirmed “the start of cutting work”.

Contacted by the Lusa agency, the movement's spokesperson, Avani Ancok, said she was “perplexed” by this situation and added that the Environmental Action and Intervention Group (GAIA) reported the situation to the TAF in Beja and requested that the court pronounce itself, immediately stop this action and sanction those responsible.

“We don't have the right number [of cork oaks cut down], but we point out between 300 and 500 trees and we realize, although we are not experts, that the cuts are quite recent, perhaps from this week or at most last week”, she argued.

The legal action brought by GAIA at the Beja TAF calls into question the legality of the order of August 1, 2023, by the former Minister of the Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro, recognising “the essential public interest of the Morgavel wind project” and the consequent felling of 1,821 cork oaks for the construction of a wind farm in Sines.