{"id":1443,"date":"2026-10-20T09:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T09:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.fotoessa.gr\/?p=1443"},"modified":"2026-11-08T13:19:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T13:19:26","slug":"guardians-of-the-coasts-meeting-sos-quinta-dos-ingleses-when-civil-society-stands-up-for-the-natural-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.fotoessa.gr\/index.php\/2026\/10\/20\/guardians-of-the-coasts-meeting-sos-quinta-dos-ingleses-when-civil-society-stands-up-for-the-natural-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardians of the Coasts – Meeting SOS Quinta dos Ingleses: When civil society stands up for the natural environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

14 October 2026 |\u00a0Coastal protection begins with land use<\/p>\n

Coastal conservation goes beyond removing litter or managing the beach itself. Decisions about development, green space and access to land behind the shoreline can affect biodiversity, coastal processes and community well-being. This wider perspective was the focus of the Greek Guardians of the Coasts team\u2019s meeting with Ver\u00f3nica Santos, President of the General Assembly of Associa\u00e7\u00e3o SOS Quinta dos Ingleses.<\/p>\n

Quinta dos Ingleses and its coastal setting<\/h2>\n

Quinta dos Ingleses lies near Carcavelos Beach and covers approximately 520 stremmata (52 hectares). It includes mature woodland, wildlife habitats and elements of cultural and historical heritage. Its importance to residents has also been social: for years, the area was used for walking, recreation and encounters with nature. The connection between this green space and the surrounding coastal landscape makes it particularly relevant to a project concerned with the protection of coasts.<\/p>\n

Development and access<\/h2>\n

According to the association\u2019s published material, the area is affected by plans for major residential and tourism development. SOS Quinta dos Ingleses opposes this approach, arguing that it would alter the site\u2019s ecological and social role. In May 2024, the company Alves Ribeiro fenced off the area, curtailing residents\u2019 previous access. This raised a fundamental question: how can a natural place with considerable community value remain meaningfully accessible?<\/p>\n

The scale of the proposal, as described on the Portuguese-language SOS Quinta dos Ingleses website and in available planning material, includes up to 850 apartments, residential buildings of up to seven above-ground storeys and up to five basement levels, hotel accommodation and commercial premises. The association describes the site as approximately 52 hectares of green land, including 35 hectares of woodland. It argues that less than 10 hectares of public green space would remain: around two hectares beyond the road and around eight hectares also encompassing the stream bed, paths, recreation facilities and parking. These figures describe the association\u2019s interpretation of the plan; they should not be mistaken for a separately verified measurement of planted public space.<\/p>\n

Environmental and social concerns<\/h2>\n

Ver\u00f3nica Santos outlined the association\u2019s concerns about potential consequences of the proposed development, including the loss of mature trees and habitats, pressure on local biodiversity and possible changes in microclimate and wind conditions that influence sand transport towards the beach. The discussion also covered potential increases in traffic, infrastructure pressures and reduced opportunities for recreation and social interaction in nature. These are the association\u2019s concerns and projected risks; they are not presented here as independently established or already realised impacts.<\/p>\n

From citizens\u2019 movement to environmental association<\/h2>\n

The association was formed on 24 June 2021 following citizen mobilisation and nearly 9,000 objections recorded in an earlier public consultation, according to its website. It has held environmental NGO status since 1 October 2024. Its approach includes public information, petitions, consultation processes, dialogue with authorities and legal action. The evolution of this initiative is relevant to Guardians of the Coasts as a case study in active citizenship: turning community concerns into sustained, organised civic participation.<\/p>\n

A public nature park as an alternative<\/h2>\n

Rather than only opposing a development project, SOS Quinta dos Ingleses proposes preserving the entire area as a substantial public urban nature park that protects ecosystems and heritage while serving the local community. This alternative connects ecological conservation, everyday public access and responsibility towards future generations.<\/p>\n

Learning outcomes for Guardians of the Coasts<\/h2>\n

The meeting emphasised that: (a) protecting beaches requires considering the wider coastal landscape; (b) spatial planning decisions carry both environmental and social consequences; (c) meaningful access to natural space affects community life; and (d) citizen participation can combine research, dialogue, mobilisation and institutional procedures. The Quinta dos Ingleses case provides a useful basis for comparison with issues faced by coastal communities in Greece.<\/p>\n

Our sincere thanks to Ver\u00f3nica Santos for this informative exchange and for sharing the association\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n

Sources and further information: en.sosquintadosingleses.com\/associacao \u00b7 en.sosquintadosingleses.com\/perguntasfrequentes \u00b7 en.sosquintadosingleses.com\/paisagem<\/p>\n

Source note: the association\u2019s Portuguese-language website describes one hotel and buildings up to seven above-ground storeys, while its English-language version refers to three hotels and seven-to-nine-storey buildings. To avoid reproducing an unresolved inconsistency, this article refers generally to hotel accommodation and uses the Portuguese-language figures for the building heights. The developer\u2019s website, in turn, describes an urban park, infrastructure and restoration works and states that the relevant approvals have been obtained. These are attributed positions of the parties concerned.<\/p>\n

Sources: https:\/\/www.sosquintadosingleses.com\/ ; https:\/\/www.sosquintadosingleses.com\/perguntasfrequentes ; https:\/\/www.cascais.pt\/anexo\/consulta-publica-operacao-de-loteamento-da-quinta-dos-ingleses-1703-0704-decorrer-ate-4-de ; https:\/\/www.quintadosingleses.com.pt\/<\/p>\n

Our beaches. A common good. A shared responsibility. A common future.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

14 October 2026 |\u00a0Coastal protection begins with land use Coastal conservation goes beyond removing litter or managing the beach itself. Decisions about development, green space and access to land behind the shoreline can affect biodiversity, coastal processes and community well-being. This wider perspective was the focus of the Greek Guardians of the Coasts team\u2019s meeting<\/p>\n

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