Portugal Air Force shooting range plan in Alter do Chão meets APFAA opposition

Portugal's defence minister Nuno Melo announced the relocation of the Portuguese Air Force's Alcochete shooting range to Alter do Chão in the Alto Alentejo, covering about 7,500 hectares. The move is intended to free the Alcochete site for the future Lisbon airport project and was accompanied by a €4.5 million allocation for de‑militarisation.

The Association for the Future of Alto Alentejo (APFAA) and its spokesperson João Pratas have publicly opposed the plan, warning of a "brutal" impact on regional agriculture, tourism and the municipalities of Alter do Chão, Crato, Fronteira and Monforte. The association demands transparency, independent technical and environmental studies, and respect for local populations before any decision is finalised.

APFAA also highlighted that the proposed site is crossed by a REN gas pipeline, raising concerns about the safety of critical energy infrastructure and the compatibility of the shooting range with future strategic projects. The group criticises the lack of publicly available studies on environmental, economic, agricultural or land‑use impacts and argues that other state‑owned lands could be used instead. It warns that the decision could produce permanent effects on the territory, its inhabitants and the region's development model.