Environmental group Quercus and business association ACRAL have criticised the environmental impact study (EIA) put forward for the IKEA outlet planned for Loulé, saying the study was conducted by an entity hired by IKEA itself. Thus neither organisation can be sure, they say, that the project will indeed safeguard the environment. This is not the first time an EIA has been deemed suspect. Similar criticism has been levelled at the EIA drawn up for a mega tourist complex near the birding wetland of Lagoa dos Salgados.
