Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Ban on Car Races in Nature Park

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BUENOS AIRES, Feb 25 2008 (IPS) - The legal authorities of the central Argentine province of Córdoba ordered a halt to the construction of a rally circuit in San Martín Park. The project, which began construction this month without a prior environmental impact study, “is unacceptable and illegal,” says Raúl Montenegro, president of the Foundation for Defense of the Environment, which filed the original complaint.

The nature park is “a unique oasis that preserves environments and native species of two ecosystems, the Chaco Serrano and the Espinal,” Montenegro told Tierramérica, pleased with the legal decision.

The entity argued that the reserve is home to more than 120 bird species. “It is not possible that a protected area that serves as an open classroom 365 days of the year should be destroyed for a car race that lasts three days,” he said.