Asociación pola defensa da ría

Description

Asociación Pola Defensa da Ría, known as APDR, is a Galician environmental organization defending the ria of Pontevedra in Spain. It was founded in 1987 to address environmental degradation in the ria area and now has more than 500 members. The association is open to any citizen who wants to help restore the ria and its surroundings.

APDR campaigns against polluting industries, most notably the ENCE-ELNOSA pulp and paper complex and the former timber company TAFISA. It also opposes changes to local ports, backs sustainable forest management and monitors Forest Stewardship Council certification in the area. Other work covers mobile phone radiation and health, sustainable seafood, forestry policy and local urban planning.

The association collaborates with river protection networks and citizen groups, and has belonged to the Galician Environmental Federation since 1999 and to the Nunca Máis platform since 2002. It negotiates with local and regional government on environmental issues and takes legal and administrative action, including appeals against industrial and forestry projects. APDR is based in Pontevedra, Galicia.