After the tragedy of February 20 th, do you think people learn?
IP: Some learned. The great lesson we should have taken from this tragic event has not been removed and just look at the attitude of the government entities that continue to make blunders and still autistic in relation to technical advice from environmentalists and we think the government has learned nothing. Regarding the general population, I think some had awareness thru the worst possible way. Others because they were touched by the suffering of people they knew, and therefore will be more careful in some situations. But the great step will have to be given by institutions linked to spatial planning and that is not happening.
Facing the mountain we see a vast desertification, what is the impact on the environment? Taking in account the orography of the island.
IP: The erosion of our mountains and the removal of trees resulting from forest fires which occurred two years ago were extremely serious, because if there is a big rainstorm, materials will slip down. In terms of environmental impact, because there is no forest to hold the soil, which helps to fix the water, there is an imbalance of habitat, the biodiversity and our climate. We know when we have forests climatic conditions follow a path, with no trees, the scenario is different. I think more time is necessary to take a big step is to educate, that is to practice. Essentially as regards the monitoring of forest fires, the responsible entities must do so and also call the citizens to this task, to prevent any more fires in the forest that is so important to the retention of materials and water. The aim is that the slope does not suffer from greater erosion. There should also be a greater number of environmental actions in schools, in which a group each x week went to the mountains to plant trees.
But, Quercus has ever made such proposals?
IP: Yes, the association has already expressed that request to schools accordingly. Not recently. What is happening is that institutions increasingly close together and Quercus is never heard. On the mainland, there is a completely different vision and action, where entities called us to help resolve a number of situations. Everything works on the island by contrast; they ignore us and do not care. I think with the help of the technicians we have on the association could be an asset to the environment.
Looking towards the future, what you wish for Quercus in the coming years?
IP: I would like the Madera grows in terms of volunteering, we have a team, but is not all. In addition, we would like to launch some environmental solutions, including the landfill of Funchal, with regard also to spatial planning that continues to be a disaster in Madeira, reforestation and collective post for which we are gathering huge efforts. In Funchal we can say that it works well in most rural counties is not the case. The eco points are never sufficient in number and are very few. In this field we have to strive more to be changed this situation.
Do you think that the legislation concerning the municipal master plans should be modified? Because we managed to over the years, change zones of agricultural land for areas with indexes of construction.
IP: I think the law should be stricter, because the legal framework is part of the problem that allows items for such situations. From the moment on that is elaborated a plan that was the discussion and was approve, should not be stirred up until a new revision. But what is happening is the opposite and the law in this field should be more ruthless, for example, impose higher fines in order to deter those who did not comply with master plans, but what you see is that natural areas are blocked with buildings and even the ground near the streams are closed.
You still defend the idea of green corridors along the streams?
IP: The biggest example in this respect can be seen traveling to some countries in Europe, to realize that this occurs. The margins of the streams are observed, are unoccupied. Here is the contrary we do everything. We closed them, the ground is not respect. Maybe for decades the stream of has a trickle of water, but they need space from time to time, our history is striking about this issue, because if we build there that will bring many problems. I usually give the example of our ancestors, if you notice the building of the houses did not occur along the streams. Generally, they built on the slopes. What we see today is the opposite, due to a lack of planning we are filling the margins that should be occupied only by green spaces.
