The project of a large pulp mill in Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula) has raised serious environmental and social concerns. Notably, the scientific and academic community working in environmental and natural sciences has taken an unprecedented, united stand against the project. In Spain, University Departments and Faculties are not only key academic units responsible for teaching and research but also act as self-governing bodies. They rarely issue collective political or social statements.
Galicia is home to three public universities: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Universidade da Coruña, and Universidade de Vigo. For the first time, numerous Departments and Faculties specializing in environmental sciences, biology, ecology, and related fields across these institutions have formally endorsed the “Open Letter (Manifesto) Against Altri”, after holding official internal votes. This extraordinary alignment represents a historic act of collective academic dissent in the region, underscoring the severity of the concerns raised by the project and the strength of the opposition within the academic community. Such coordinated public statements—especially ones reflecting agreement across multiple departments and universities—are exceptionally rare in Spain's academic landscape.
Below you can find the translation of the “MANIFESTO DE OPOSICIÓN A UNHA NOVA MACRO-CELULOSA EN GALICIA (“ALTRI NON”) DESDE A COMUNIDADE CIENTÍFICA”, which was endorsed by the following academic institutions:
Faculties:
- Facultade de Ciencias da Universidade da Coruña (23 July 2024) [Science Faculty]
- Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (3 October 2024) [Biology Faculty]
- Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo (25 November 2024) [Biology Faculty]
- Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo (13 December 2024) [Science Faculty]
Departments:
- Departamento de Botánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (10 July 2024). [Botany/Plant Science Department]
- Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (11 July 2024). [Functional Biology Department, where the Ecology, Cellular Biology and Plant Physiology sections are integrated]
- Departamento de Ecoloxía y Bioloxía Animal, Universidade de Vigo (12 July 2024) [Ecology and Animal Biology Department]
- Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (15 July 2024) [Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry Deparment]
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (23 July 2024) [Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology Department]
- Departamento de Bioloxía, Universidade da Coruña (23 July 2024) [Biology Deparment]
- Departamento de Suelos, Biosistemas y Ecología Agroforestal, Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC) (24 July 2024) [Soil Science, Biosystems and Agroforestry Ecology Deparment, Spanish Research Council]
- Departamento de Economía Aplicada, Universidade de Vigo (29 July 2024) [Applied Economics Department]
- Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo da Universidade de Vigo (16 September 2024) [Plant Biology and Soil Science Department]
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Open Letter/Manifest:
Scientific Community Opposes the new macro-cellulose project (ALTRI’s) in Galicia, NW Spain
The project of building a new macro-scale pulp mill in Galicia (northwest Spain) poses a serious threat to the natural environment and the conservation of biodiversity in the region. Galicia should not base its economy on extractive industries that lead to the profound deterioration of its natural heritage. Instead, it should prioritize sustainable forest management, gradually reducing the area occupied by eucalyptus plantations and promoting the diversification of ecosystems. Rationalizing the use of eucalyptus in forestry would enable the recovery of ecosystems and biodiversity, fostering a multifunctional rural environment that balances ecological, social, and economic values.
Galicia cannot tie its economic future to a production model that is fundamentally at odds with environmental objectives. On the contrary, its development strategy should align with the broader direction set by most European countries, which have identified ecological restoration as a key pillar of sustainable economic growth (Nature Restoration Law; Council of the European Union, 17 June 2024).
The installation of a new pulp mill will require a high demand for wood sourced from monoculture plantations of forest species with low ecological value (i.e. eucalyptus plantations). Its impact on ecosystem connectivity and associated biodiversity will be significant—not only at the local level, where the mill is planned, but also at a broader, regional scale. For this reason, as a university community dedicated to studying and researching the natural environment in Galicia, we oppose the installation of the Altri pulp mill in Palas de Rei (Lugo, Spain).
The main reasons for our opposition are:
- Deterioration of ecosystems and biodiversity
The expansion of eucalyptus plantations to supply the pulp mill will increase competition for land, likely displacing native species and undermining the integrity of natural habitats. The rich mosaic of landscapes—meadows, hedgerows, small oak groves (carballeiras), and chestnut forests—that characterizes inland Galicia, and supports the local economy, would be threatened with disappearance. Eucalyptus, like any monoculture, drastically reduces biodiversity. Furthermore, the impact will extend beyond the plantations themselves, as it will disrupt the connectivity between areas of high ecological value, fragmenting habitats and threatening the survival of many species. - High environmental sensitivity of the area
The area proposed for the installation of the large pulp mill is of high environmental sensitivity. It is located on unique ultrabasic rocks (i.e. specifically the “complejo ultrabásico de Melide”), known as serpentinites, (i.e. forming the “complejo ultrabásico de Melide”) which are globally rare geological formations. Additionally, it borders the Serra do Careón Special Area of Conservation (SAC), part of the EU’s Natura 2000 network, which harbors several unique species of flora and fauna that would be severely impacted by this industrial activity. The area at risk was already included in the 2008 and 2011 proposals to expand the Natura 2000 network, as it possesses environmental values comparable to those of the currently protected SAC areas. Moreover, it contains some of the best populations of four of Galicia's most endangered plant species, all listed in the Galician Catalogue of Threatened Species (regulated by law “Decreto 88/2007” of the autonomous government, Xunta de Galicia). These species, all in decline, are strict endemics tied specifically to the unique serpentinite soils of the area, and are highly sensitive to any alteration of soil morphology. It is important to emphasize that the presence of these plant species, along with others of significant biological value identified in the area, makes this site one of only ten areas of exceptional value for the conservation of endangered flora in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. - Serious impact on the river Ulla
The River Ulla will experience a daily extraction of 46000 cubic meters of water and will receive 30000 cubic meters of treated wastewater. The alteration of the river's flow and the changes in the physico-chemical properties of the water could significantly impact water quality and the associated biodiversity. Therefore, it is crucial to apply the precautionary principle, which should guide any activity with potential environmental consequences. Furthermore, other human activities that depend on this resource might also be affected. The impact on the River Ulla will likely not be limited to the discharge point; due to the river's longitudinal connectivity, the effects extend downstream, reaching the Ulla-Deza Fluvial System, another important component of the Natura 2000 network. The river Ulla flows into the “Ría de Arousa”, a vulnerable ecosystem of great environmental and socio-economic importance, where the SAC, SPA, and Ramsar Wetland of the Umia-Grove-Carreirón Intertidal Complex are also located. - Increased emissions and pollution
The plant will release a wide range of air pollutants, including sulfur and nitrogen oxides (the primary precursors of acid rain), in significant quantities, as well as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (although this aspect is not detailed in the company's Environmental Impact Assessment), and particulate matter. These pollutants will deteriorate local air quality, negatively impact biodiversity and may have broader effects on climate and public health.
For all these reasons, we, as scientific staff from the university community and research institutes focused on environment protection and biodiversity, strongly oppose the projected installation of a new large pulp mill fabric in Galicia.