Covas do Barroso

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Covas do Barroso is a civil parish (Portuguese: freguesia) in northern Portugal, in the municipality of Boticas, in the old district of Vila Real. The population in 2011 was 262, in an area of 29.58 km2. Located in the subregion of Alto Trás-os-Montes, it comprises three villages: Covas do Barroso, Romaínho and Muro. The community attracted international media attention in 2019 due to the local population's opposition to the planned mining of lithium found in the region, a metal that is highly important for the production of rechargeable batteries. Europe's largest lithium deposits are believed to be located here, which the multinational lithium mining consortium Savannah Resources, based in London, wants to mine. On the other hand, the area around Covas do Barroso was declared a World Heritage Site for Agriculture by the FAO in 2018 - due to the diverse pasture farming practised here for centuries, which promotes biodiversity. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, the economic situation has become more difficult due to fewer tourists and lithium mining has become more attractive due to the increased global market price.