No sooner had it opened (click here) than environmentalists have been raising concerns that the stunning Arouca pedestrian suspension bridge “could have a detrimental impact on the environment”. SOS Rio Paiva has asked authorities to reduce access to the bridge and the nearby Passadiços de Paiva “to minimise pressure on the river and improve the experience of those seeking sustainable nature tourism”. The group fears the bridge will open the gorge to ‘thousands of tourists’ who will bring pollution to the river and increase (the likelihood) of ‘invasive species’.
