Nardo:the protest against the Porsche center that deforests Puglia crosses borders

The Nardò Porsche track is back in the news, but this time it attracts the attention of German territories, moving onto an increasingly international stage.On the afternoon of Tuesday 5 March in Stuttgart several environmental associations organized a sit-in protest against the German production company, highlighting how the expansion of the test track through the so-called "projectNardò Technical Center” (NTC) could lead to a real environmental disaster.To lend support to environmental associations, which among other things also have harvest beyond 80,000 signatures Even the municipal administration of the city home to the important car brand appears to have come out against the construction of the work, requesting a meeting with representatives of Porsche.Meanwhile in Italy the silence of the large movements to protect the environment is strident, but their absence is filled by smaller signatures and local movements, which have presented a exposed to the TAR Puglia and launched, similarly to the German counterparts, one petition which he collected in 3 months 40,000 signatures.Some politicians were also interested in the topic and presented the issue before the Chamber of Deputies and the European Parliament.

On the occasion of the sit-in protest held in Stuttgart, the political group SOS Linke Puls Fraction from Zuffenhausen opened the discussion by talking about the possible consequences resulting from the NTC expansion plan.According to what German newspapers and similar local Italian newspapers report, both environmentalist associations and city councilors have asked Porsche to specify if alternatives had been considered for the development of the runway that did not include the demolition of 200 hectares of woodland which constitute an authentic natural reserve in the area, and, if the answer was affirmative, why they had been discarded.In addition to this, during the demonstration actions, the contradictions of the NTC project:this, in fact, would be dedicated to the "testing of future mobility technologies" such as electric motors, and would be built with a view to a greener future and in the name of sustainability;yet, the German associations denounce, this same sustainability would disappear when the circuit was expanded, revealing the greenwashing mask with which the automotive company covers the initiative.

In Italy, similarly to what was done by the German political group, the Vice President of the Apulian Regional Council Cristian Casili has asked clarifications regarding the project, pushing for alternatives to be considered.Together with him, despite a timid participation on the part of the major environmentalist associations, lesser-known names on the Italian ecological panorama have moved:was born in October Committee of guardians of the Arneo forest, which on January 22nd, together with the association Our Italy et al Legal Intervention Group, presented a complaint to the Puglia TAR to stop the project of the German company, which will have to express its opinion on the authorizations issued;in addition to these, also the association Green Environments and Society raised her voice against the NTC plan, and was quoted in one parliamentary session from the Deputy Filiberto Zaratti of Green Europe, which asked for further clarifications from the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.Still on the political level, there has been a move MEP Rosa d'Amato that he has presented their doubts about the initiative before the European Chamber, which responded that "further clarifications" will be requested from the Italian authorities.

Appeals were launched from both Italy and Germany to stop Porsche's project, and tens of thousands of people signed up.The plan, from 450 million euros, involves the demolition of 200 hectares of forest to carry out work on the Nardò test track, one of the most cutting-edge on the continent.From what we learn from the project description, instead of the nature reserve a heliport for air rescue would be built, the existing runway would be expanded (and renovated), a fire safety center would be erected, and the public area of ​​Porto Cesareo would be redeveloped, also through the construction of roads dedicated to pedestrians and bicycles.On top of all this, Porsche reportedly plans to replant the trees felled, tripling the extension of the area of ​​interest, and thus restoring 600 hectares of forest.According to environmental associations, however, such an action would at times be unfeasible due to the conditions of the ground, and in any case no less harmful to the environment, given the extreme rarity of the flora involved.

[by Dario Lucisano]