“Considering that the white stork is a non-threatened species, with an expanding population in the national territory, since there is no satisfactory alternative, the maintenance of the populations of the species in question in a favourable conservation status in its natural distribution area is not compromised, and the act aims to follow up on a licensed project, the ICNF, within its competences, issued a license for the removal of this nest, for a date when the animals are migrating,” the agency clarified, in a response to PAN.

On October 16th, Manuela Carneiro, the animal welfare commissioner for the Porto district of the PAN party, reported to Lusa news agency the “illegal felling of a palm tree” that housed a stork's nest “to enable the construction of a luxury condominium in Valbom, in the municipality of Gondomar”.

She also reported the case to the Environmental Protection Brigade (BRIPA) of the PSP (Public Security Police), which, in a communication dated October 13th, responded by informing that it had forwarded the case to the Gondomar Court.

The case is being investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office following a complaint filed on October 3rd by that party, which at the time considered it to be facing an "alleged environmental crime," given that the stork's nest located in a palm tree at Rua Dr. Joaquim Manuel Costa, No. 1330, in Valbom, in the municipality of Gondomar, was found while the tree was "in use."

Authorisation

In response to the complaint, the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests) clarifies that authorisation was indeed requested for the removal of a white stork's nest located in an abandoned factory chimney, situated on land already licensed for urban development, which would have required demolition.

The structure, the public body further states, was covered in vegetation, which may have led to the perception that it was a chimney and not a palm tree, as the request claims.

The ICNF also emphasises that, being duly licensed, the authorisation for the removal of the nest was granted for "a time window when the birds were not in the area, avoiding any direct disturbance."

The entity states that "the change of nesting site is a natural phenomenon," and, in many cases, this change occurs due to the disappearance of the original site or the alteration of the conditions that the species considers suitable.

They further add that this behaviour "is part of their natural resilience, allowing them to rebuild the nest or create another in different locations when necessary."

On October 16th, in response to a request for clarification from Lusa, the municipality of Gondomar informed that "no request for felling was submitted to the City Council regarding the palm tree in question," clarifying that "the felling of palm trees located on private property does not require prior authorization from the Gondomar City Council, since it is not a protected species."

The municipality also stated that it was unaware of "the specific circumstances of the intervention mentioned."