Asociación pola defensa da ría

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The Asociación Pola Defensa da Ría (Association in Defense of the ria) of Pontevedra, known as APDR, is a Spanish local environmental non-governmental organisation created in 1987 to address the environmental degradation of Pontevedra's fjord area. It has over 500 members and it holds substanctial support within the community.

Through its work, the APDR defends a model of sustainable development based in the rational use of sea and forest resources and an alternative tourism model. The organisation is open to any citizen interested in the rehabilitation of the fjord and its adjacent areas. Most of its work is focused in the fight against the main polluting industries, such as the enterprise TAFISA (already relocated) and the complex ENCE-ELNOSA.

[edit] Campaigns

The APDR currently has three campaign areas: paper mills, with a focus on the closure of the operations of the ENCE pulp mill in Pontevedra's fjord and the opposition of the construction of new ENCE and Botnia pulp mills in Entre Ríos (Arxentina) e Río Negro (Uruguai); litoral modification, and in particular against the changes in Marín's port and the construction of a new harbours in Bueu; and sustainable forest management. The APDR focusses, on this last campaign, on ensuring that certifications awarded by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) follow the criteria of this certification.

[edit] Collaborations

The APDR works with other environmental networks that aim to protect the environment, the Galician rivers Gafos, Lérez and Verdugo, and with citizens initiatives, including sending environmental and urbanism proposals to the government of Pontevedra.

From 1999, the APDR is member of the Galician Environmental Federation (FEG), and from 2002 of the platform Nunca Máis.