Abrantes Council Criticizes Unlicensed River Work on Ribeira de Alcolobre

The president of the Abrantes municipal council, Manuel Jorge Valamatos, said a 300‑metre intervention on the Ribeira de Alcolobre was carried out without a licence from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and without prior notice to the municipalities of Abrantes and Constância. The work involved dredging, reinforcement of protection structures and the near‑total removal of vegetation along the riverbank between the parishes of Tramagal (Abrantes) and Santa Margarida da Coutada (Constância).

APA confirmed that no licensing process existed for the project, prompting the council to contact the agency immediately after being alerted to the activity. Valamatos described the intervention as having “robustness and a very significant visual impact.”