In these tense times, it is heartening to see people care enough to strongly defend the climate and environment. In mid-December 2024, more than 100,000 individuals hit the streets of Santiago de Compostela – a turn-out unheard of in the region’s history – to protest plans to build a new pulp mill in Galicia, Spain. A record-breaking 23,000 individuals also sent complaints about the project to the Xunta, the autonomous region’s government, and received a not-so-subtle response. As things stand, it seems that thousands of citizens could use support from the EU.
Some 52 NGOs have alleged administrative deficiencies and unacceptable socio-environmental impacts surrounding the Altri Group and Greenalia Greenfiber project, including the hasty determination of its ‘strategic’ status, despite the lack of availability of certain technical documents, and a failure to respect moratoria on new eucalyptus plantations.
Locals have reason to be worried: the pulp mill would dramatically deplete water resources, removing 46 million litres of water from the river Ulla daily, of which 30 million litres of treated wastewater would be returned, leaving a shortfall of 16 million litres per day. A local energy company, Naturgy added its voice to the protests, because of the project’s effect on the concession of water for energy.
Biodiversity is also at risk. The pulp/cellulose project’s first phase would require some 1.2 million tonnes of eucalyptus, per year, to be sourced locally; its second phase could double that. When diverse, native trees are replaced by fire-prone, thirsty eucalyptus plantations, local biodiversity is dealt a considerable blow.
The area threatened by the project’s Goliath footprint (500 football fields-sized area of agricultural lands) is unique. Located where Natura 2000 sites meet, upstream of internationally protected Ramsar wetlands, at least six species protected under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, including the Squacco heron, black stork, short-toed snake eagle, Motagu’s harrier, red kite and black tern are present there. Less majestic but no less protected, invertebrates listed in Habitats Directive annex II could also be disturbed. The area is home as well to three strictly endemic – they live nowhere else – plant species in danger of extinction.1
Surprisingly, the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) records the presence of only 68 bird species, although at least 140 species are regularly recorded there; wintering species, and even certain nesting species, were missed. Of these, two figure in the Galician Catalogue of Endangered Species. No sampling for invertebrates was carried out, so the EIA ignores the presence of six species.
In 2023, Spain received a letter of formal notice, INFR(2023)2037, for insufficient Natura 2000 sites. The Xunta de Galicia’s commitment to expand the Natura 2000 Network includes the area most affected by the proposed landfill of Greenfiber’s industrial effluents.
The Xunta’s response: The Xunta contacted the 23,000 people who wrote to register their alarm, not to reassure them that their concerns had been heard, but to require them to justify their ‘interest’ in complaining. The Xunta’s intent can reasonably be challenged; neither the EU Commission’s complaint procedure, nor the EU Parliament procedure for submitting a petition have such a restrictive condition for registering concern.
The next steps will be telling. Parties are awaiting decisions about the permit for the collection and discharge into the Ulla river, and about the project’s EIA, for which certain technical reports have yet to be delivered. NGOs are trying to prepare, should the project receive the expected approval.
Teresa Ribera, EU Commission vice president for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, was informed of the situation. The Commission now has an opportunity to show EU citizens that it will remain vigilant where EU interests are at stake. This is particularly important if NextGenerationEU funding is sought for the project; the project’s impacts do not appear compatible with the fund’s purpose to build a clean, innovative and inclusive economy, and the Green Deal requirement to do no significant harm. More immediately, the Commission could inquire why the Xunta requires ‘proof of interest’ for citizens merely to raise a concern. For thousands of worried Europeans, it would be an occasion to witness that the EU has their backs.
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1 Bird species mentioned, in order: Ardeola ralloides, Ciconia nigra, Circaetus gallicus, Circus pygargus, Milvus milvus, Chlidonias niger. Examples of Habitats listed invertebrates: Lucanus cervus, Macromia splendens, Oxygastra curtisii. Strictly endemic plant species: Armeria merinoi, Leucanthemum gallaecicum and Santolina melidensis
Image: Manoel Santos
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