Association for the Ecological Defense of Galicia
A Galician environmental organization founded in the 1970s that campaigns on ecological protection, environmental education, and opposition to environmentally harmful infrastructure and industrial projects.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Association for the Ecological Defense of Galicia, known by its Galician acronym ADEGA, is an environmental organization active in Galicia, Spain. It was founded in 1974 and formally registered in 1976. The association emerged during the late Franco and democratic-transition periods, when opposition to nuclear power, pollution, large infrastructure projects, and the degradation of coastal and river environments became increasingly important elements of Galician civic mobilization. ADEGA has historically been associated with the Galician nationalist movement, while operating as an environmental advocacy organization rather than as a political party. Its first president was Domingo Quiroga. The association's initial governing board included analytical chemistry professor Francisco Bermejo, architect Xosé Bar Boo, lawyer Xosé Luis Rodríguez Pardo, politician and economist Xosé Manuel Beiras, and Fernando González Laxe, who later served as president of the Xunta de Galicia from 1987 to 1989. The organization first gained broad prominence through opposition to plans for a nuclear power plant in Xove. Mass mobilization contributed to the abandonment of the project. During the 1980s, ADEGA also participated in an international campaign against the dumping of radioactive material in the Atlantic. Working with other environmental groups, including Greenpeace, it helped organize maritime opposition involving Galician fishing vessels, and the dumping plans were blocked. The toxic cloud generated by the fire aboard the cargo vessel Cason later prompted another major environmental response in Costa da Morte. ADEGA's campaigns subsequently expanded to include opposition to dams on the Eume and Navia rivers, protection of rivers and coasts, resistance to mining projects, and participation in broader Galician social movements. It was involved in Nunca Máis, the civic movement formed in response to the Prestige oil-spill disaster, and later supported opposition to the proposed Corcoesto gold mine in Coristanco. The Corcoesto campaign became part of a wider mobilization against mining development in Galicia and helped prevent the project from proceeding. The association combines campaigning with public information and environmental education. Since 1986 it has published Cerna, a quarterly magazine addressing environmental issues in Galicia and their relationship to wider global problems. Since 2004, ADEGA has promoted Proxecto Ríos, a citizen-based river-monitoring and education program. Volunteers inspect rivers in their municipalities, contribute to annual reporting, and participate in conferences and river-cleaning activities when problems are identified. ADEGA maintains a decentralized presence through chapters and activity in numerous Galician comarcas, including A Mariña, Santiago, A Coruña, Costa da Morte, Lugo, O Carballiño, Ourense, A Paradanta, Barbanza, Ordes, A Ulloa, Pontevedra, Trasancos, and Vigo. In 2005, Verdegaia was founded as an offshoot. ADEGA has also faced criticism from the Galiza non se vende network over what that network described as excessive dependence on the Union of the Galician People and the Galician Nationalist Bloc. Despite this political context, ADEGA's documented public role is centered on environmental defense, ecological monitoring, civic education, and community campaigning.
History
ADEGA was created in Galicia in 1974 and registered as an organization in 1976. Its early development coincided with growing ecological and regional civic activism. The association's first president was Domingo Quiroga, while the original board included figures from science, architecture, law, politics, and public life. The organization has long maintained links with Galician nationalism, although its activities have focused on environmental protection and social mobilization. Its initial public profile was built through opposition to a proposed nuclear power plant in Xove. After sustained protests, the project was abandoned. In the 1980s ADEGA broadened its activity beyond nuclear policy, working with international environmental organizations to oppose the dumping of radioactive materials in the Atlantic. Galician fishing boats were used in the maritime protest effort, which helped prevent the dumping operation. The Cason cargo-ship fire and resulting toxic cloud in Costa da Morte generated another campaign. Later in the decade, ADEGA led successful opposition to proposed dams on the Eume and Navia rivers. Over time, its agenda expanded to cover river and coastal protection, industrial pollution, mining, environmental planning, and ecological education. ADEGA participated in Nunca Máis after the Prestige disaster and later joined the mobilization against the proposed Corcoesto gold mine. The group has also developed long-term educational and publishing work. Cerna, its quarterly environmental magazine, has been published since 1986. Proxecto Ríos, launched in 2004, recruits volunteers to inspect and document the condition of Galician rivers and to organize reporting, educational meetings, and cleaning activities. The organization operates through a network of chapters and local activity across many Galician comarcas, including A Mariña, Santiago, A Coruña, Costa da Morte, Lugo, O Carballiño, Ourense, A Paradanta, Barbanza, Ordes, A Ulloa, Pontevedra, Trasancos, and Vigo. Verdegaia was established as an offshoot in 2005. ADEGA has also been criticized by Galiza non se vende for its perceived political dependence on the Union of the Galician People and the Galician Nationalist Bloc. Available reference material does not identify current officeholders, budgets, membership totals, or a complete recent activity record.
- 2005
Verdegaia founded as an offshoot
[1]Verdegaia was established as an organization originating from ADEGA.
- 2004
Proxecto Ríos launched
[1]The organization began its citizen river-monitoring and environmental education initiative, Proxecto Ríos.
- 1986
Cerna magazine begins publication
[1]ADEGA began publishing Cerna, a quarterly magazine focused on environmental issues and their effects in Galicia.
- 1976
Formal registration
[1]The association was formally registered two years after its founding.
- 1974
Organization founded
[1]ADEGA was founded in Galicia as an ecological defense association.
Products and positioning
A Galician grassroots environmental organization combining ecological campaigning, civic mobilization, public education, and volunteer-based environmental monitoring, with a strong regional identity and historical links to Galician nationalism.
Environmental education and citizen science · 2004
Proxecto Ríos
A volunteer initiative focused on the observation and protection of Galician rivers. Participants inspect waterways in their municipalities, contribute information to annual reporting, attend conferences, and organize cleaning actions when environmental problems are identified.
Environmental publication · 1986
Cerna
A quarterly magazine covering environmental questions in Galicia and connecting local ecological impacts with broader global environmental problems. It has been associated with ADEGA's public information and educational work since 1986.
Marketing campaigns
- 1980Opposition to Eume and Navia dams
Galicia
During the late 1980s, ADEGA led campaigns against new dams on the Eume and Navia rivers.
Outcome. The campaigns were described as successful.
- Opposition to the Xove nuclear power plant
Galicia
ADEGA participated in mass protests against plans to build a nuclear power plant in Xove. The project was ultimately abandoned.
Outcome. The proposed plant was not built.
- Atlantic radioactive-waste dumping opposition
Galicia · Atlantic Ocean
ADEGA collaborated with environmental organizations including Greenpeace to oppose the dumping of radioactive materials in the Atlantic, using maritime action involving Galician fishing vessels.
Outcome. The dumping operation was blocked.
- Cason toxic-cloud response
Costa da Morte · Galicia
The fire aboard the Cason cargo vessel and the resulting toxic cloud prompted ADEGA to organize a further environmental campaign.
- Nunca Máis
Galicia
ADEGA participated in the broad civic movement formed after the Prestige oil spill.
- Corcoesto gold-mine opposition
Coristanco · Galicia
ADEGA joined the movement opposing a proposed gold mine at Corcoesto in the municipality of Coristanco.
Outcome. The wider anti-mining movement stopped the proposed project.
Brand decisions
2005
Creation of VerdegaiaStrategyBackground
The organization broadened its wider environmental movement presence through the creation of an affiliated offshoot.
Action taken
Verdegaia was founded as an offshoot of ADEGA.
2004
Expand into citizen river monitoringStrategyBackground
ADEGA sought to combine environmental advocacy with continuing public participation and ecological education.
Action taken
It launched Proxecto Ríos, through which volunteers inspect rivers, contribute to reports, and participate in educational and cleaning activities.
Aftermath
The initiative became a continuing part of ADEGA's environmental education and river-protection work.
Recent events
ADEGA campaigns against the proposed nuclear power plant at Xove[1]
Other
The organization became prominent through mass opposition to plans for a nuclear power plant in Xove; the project was ultimately abandoned.
Campaign against Atlantic radioactive-waste dumping[1]
Campaign
ADEGA worked with other environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, to oppose the dumping of radioactive materials in the Atlantic. The campaign used maritime mobilization involving Galician fishing boats and succeeded in blocking the dumping operation.
ADEGA responds to the Cason toxic-cloud incident[1]
Campaign · Other
A fire aboard the cargo vessel Cason, which produced a toxic cloud in Costa da Morte, prompted another environmental campaign by the organization.
Opposition to dams on the Eume and Navia rivers[1]
Campaign
In the late 1980s, ADEGA led successful campaigns against the construction of new dams on the Eume and Navia rivers.
ADEGA participates in Nunca Máis[1]
Campaign · Other
The organization took part in Nunca Máis, a major Galician social movement responding to the Prestige oil-spill disaster.
Opposition to the Corcoesto gold mine[1]
Campaign · Regulation
ADEGA participated in the movement against the proposed Corcoesto gold mine in Coristanco. The wider movement succeeded in stopping the project.
Sources2 sources
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