CALL FOR REPLANTING. Manifesto

In Cascais, the recent storm Martinho demonstrated the destructive capacity of these storms, which will become increasingly recurrent and dangerous as climate change becomes more evident.

The fall of trees, caused by the intensity of the wind and aggravated by the excess water in the soil (the result of the rains that have been occurring) reminds us of the importance of managing a territory so that it is as resilient as possible to this type of phenomenon.

Allowing unbridled and chaotic construction, which has been the paradigm of city council management (especially in the last decade), has sealed off a large amount of soil and destroyed significant green areas (even in supposedly protected areas, such as the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park), which strongly contributes to aggravating the impacts that this type of phenomenon has and will have on the territory.

The force of the sea has also demonstrated the risks we run if we continue with this policy of destroying the natural spaces that remain. In Carcavelos, the investments made in beach support structures have literally gone down the drain or, more correctly, into the sea. And although the exact costs of the destroyed structures remain to be seen (which is difficult to account for, as not all the data is accessible, and the figures presented by the CMC are not credible because they contradict the figures indicated in the Participatory Budget), the truth is that there is a serious likelihood that the waves will wash away the promenade. Suppose the destruction of Quinta dos Ingleses is carried out with the construction promoted by Alves Ribeiro (and St. Julian's). In that case, the effects of future storms will affect the whole area much more due to the combination of the sealing of the soil and the changes of the wind and sea breeze regime that this construction will entail, with the progressive worsening of flood risks and the disappearance of the beach.

In Paris, the closure of numerous roads to traffic has just been approved to make way for vegetation and pedestrianization of these areas to combat climate change (see https://expresso.pt/internacional/2025-03-24-paris-vai-fechar-500-ruas-ao-transito-e-acabar-com-10-mil-lugares-de-estacionamento-medida-foi-aprovada-num-referendo-votado-pelos-cidadaos-7618a7ef).

In Cascais, the recent tree-planting campaign promoted by CMC, which is to be commended (despite its electioneering intent), shows that the municipality is finally listening to what we have been advocating for years. However, it's not enough: it's essential to preserve the existing green spaces (namely Quinta dos Ingleses, Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Areia-Guincho, Biscaia, Figueira do Guincho, Birre, Aldeia de Juso, Charneca, Malveira, Zambujeiro, Tires, Outeiro dos Cucos, Alto dos Gaios, among others) and prevent them from being progressively covered in concrete. But we also need to start a major replanting campaign in the areas that were most affected by Storm Martinho, planting new trees and shrubs, of diverse species, to densify these areas so that the force of the wind doesn't affect any of them as much and, at the same time, to contribute to increasing biodiversity, both in terms of flora and (subsequently) fauna, and to the territory's resilience.

This is the appeal we are making, not just to the CMC, but to all citizens: this storm should make us realize that the destructive potential of this type of phenomenon is greater the lower the barrier created by existing forestation and, therefore, that planting new trees and shrubs throughout the municipality and, in particular, in the most exposed areas, can greatly contribute to preserving people and property and improving the quality of life: the benefits on air quality, air temperature, rainwater absorption, tranquillity and people's mental health, noise reduction, reducing the impact of winds, among others⁸, will all be effects that we will be able to feel as soon as this appeal is put into practice.

Associação SOS Quinta dos Ingleses