EPAC's old granaries in Mértola, abandoned there 40 year old, will be rehabilitated and suitable to receive the Biological Station and the Biodiversity Gallery.
Purchased by the City Council, will join knowledge transfer to the region, combating desertification and climate change, a worldwide pioneering project led by the municipality and the Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Research Center (FOOD) the University of Porto, where they work more than 400 scientists.
Yesterday the municipality of “Vila Museu” presented the Estação Biológica / Biodiversity Gallery with the presence of the Minister of Territorial Cohesion Ana Abrunhosa and the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Manuel Heitor.
Councilor Rosinda Pimenta considered that this is “a territorial project that is transversal to political cycles, in a territory with little agricultural aptitude, but of great appreciation of the ecosystem ”, justified.
For his part Jorge Rosa, President of the Chamber Mértola, considered that “it is a project that crosses the borders of the country and Europe, that will promote attraction, attracting and retaining qualified staff and creating job opportunities ”, concluded.
Ana Abrunhosa, the Minister for Territorial Cohesion, defended that in Mértola there are many secrets to tell and nothing is done without resources and nothing is done without people ”, ensuring that “there will be no shortage of community funds. For good projects there can be no shortage of resources. Bring people who guarantee the financial means ”, concluded.
The public tender will be launched in the coming months and should be ready by the end of this year to start the works. The Biological Station will have a total investment of 4,142 million euros and the Biodiversity Gallery cost more than 2 million.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
