Yesterday, 21st October, the Manifesto titled "Agroparc Gelida, institutional silence and the protection of wildlife in Catalonia" was delivered to Wildlife Service, to the Department of Territory (Biodiversity and Ecological Transition) and to the Director General of the Environment, Marc Vilahur.
The Manifesto warns of the serious threat to the survival of the pair of Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata) in Gelida, due to the large earthworks being carried out by Ametller Origen within the critical hunting area. These actions, which foresee an extraordinary excavation volume of 724,000 m3 of earth (equivalent to nearly 300 Olympic swimming pools), are being carried out without having previously implemented any compensatory measures or having verified their success through radio tracking. The Bonelli's eagle is one of the most threatened raptors in Europe, with only 80 pairs in Catalonia.
In just 10 days, nearly 50 entities and 700 people have signed the Manifesto. Among the supporting entities are significant environmental organisations in Catalonia, such as, among others:
- DEPANA (League for the Defence of Natural Heritage).
- Ecologists in Action
- IPCENA( Institution of Ponent for the Conservation and Study of the Natural Environment).
- ADENC (Association for the Defence and study of Nature).
- ICRA (Institute for the Conservation of Birds of Prey).
- IAEDEN (Alt Empordà Institution for the Defence and Study of Nature).
Key demands
The Manifesto emphasises the need for administrations to comply with wildlife protection laws, and sets out three clear demands:
- Theimmediate halt to construction work on the Agroparcuntil compensatory measures are implemented and the eagle has a new effective roosting area, and that all responsibilities are accounted for.
- That the Generalitat, as the
responsible administration, assumes
its responsibilities and:
- Guarantees the development of optimal land planning, prioritising the conservation of biodiversity and protected wildlife.
- Ensures the search for alternative locations, avoiding the excessive use of the qualification of “Projects of General Interest” to allow urbanisation in vital spaces.
- Assumes its obligation to ensure the implementation of proportional and effective compensatory measures in all affected urban planning projects.
- That the Director General of the Environment, Marc Vilahur, actively supports the protection of hreatened species, one of the functions of your position, and that requires the implementation of compensatory measures before making any intervention on the vital habitats of the threatened species.
The destruction of the habitat of the Bonelli's Eagle in Gelida is considered the culmination of a historical pressure on biodiversity, and its disappearance, as a top predator, would disrupt the balance of the entire ecosystem. The consequences will be irreversible if the works are not stopped immediately.
The manifesto remains open for endorsements, would you like to support it?
Link to Manifesto and the list of affiliated entitiesand to the endorsement form
List of affiliated entities as of 21 October 2025
ADEFFA. Association for the Defence and Study of Native Fauna and Flora
ADENC. Association for the Defence and Study of Nature
AGITA'T GRÀCIA
AMIPS. Friends Manol and Palol Sabaldòria
APMA - Garraf. Group for the Protection of the Environment of Garraf
ARBA LITORAL. Association for the Recovery of Native Forests of the Catalan Coastal System
Arran de terra SCCL
Agroecological Association Can Feliu de Rubí (Ecobodum)
Ecoconscient Association
Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourist Degrowth
Agro-environmental Association Temps de Saó
ALYTES Association
Residents' Association of Sant Salvador
Ecologist Association La Horda
Association for the Sustainability of the Òdena Basin
Permasenderi Association
Nature Classroom El Meandre
Cal Cigarro SL
CEAC. Environmental Emergency Coordinator of Canet
Excursionist Centre of Terrassa
Environmental Centre l'Arrel
CEPA. Centre for Ecology and Alternative Projects of Catalonia
Bosc Verd Ecologist Collective
Eixarcolant Collective
Coordinator for the Safeguarding of Montseny
Coordinator We Preserve Maresme
CUP Gelida
DEPANA. League for the Defence of Natural Heritage
Ecologists in Action
EL BROT SCCL
Font-Rubí Margin Space
GDMNS. Group for the Defence of the Natural Environment of Segarra
GEVEN. Ecologist Group of Vendrell and Baix Penedès
Freixe Nature Group
IAEDEN-Save l'Empordà
ICRA. Institute for the Conservation of Birds of Prey
IPCENA. Institution of Ponent for the Conservation and Study of the Natural Environment
IREHOM
La Garrofera
Les Agulles - Ecologists of Baix Llobregat
Naturalists of Gelida
Let's Stop CatSud
Platform We Don't Do the CIM
Platform Living Towns
SAT Cal Pauet
SOM Penedès
Vilafranca in Common
Vòrtex Cultural Projects SCCL