Members of The Trees Speak and The Tree Table have reported to Seprona via email on Monday morning, as advised, the cutting of the 25 laurels on La Rambla de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which began this very morning by the Tenerife capital’s council, from number 147 to the Naval Command. These groups believe the law is being violated and explain this in their report, which includes photos and videos of the cuts undertaken since early Monday.
Carmen De la Rosa, a member of The Trees Speak, tells Canarias Ahora that this step was taken as these groups have been unable to present the objections they intended to bring before the council because the local corporation has not yet responded to their request for access to the file. Moreover, their proposal for an independent company to compile a report on this cutting of 25 laurels has not been considered. They recall that in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the council agreed to and funded an external company to assess the situation of the San Nicolás Ridge fig tree, at the behest of local residents, which halted the felling.
De la Rosa criticises that they have also been ignored regarding the suspension of the cuttings and that, during this morning, the cutting of the trees commenced. In the view of these entities, this could be violating environmental law due to its effects on a bird breeding habitat area (from January to August in the Canary Islands), apart from infringing their rights to information and participation, “as we are not allowed access to the file”. She also notes that a company was willing to collaborate in the case of Santa Cruz, but the council did not heed this possibility.
The two groups stress that, “during the nesting season, birds are protected by international laws, regulations, and conventions that prohibit activities that may cause them disturbance or harm, such as the destruction of their nests or the disruption of their habitats. Competent authorities can take measures to protect birds and their habitats during this period”.
According to them, some of these regulations include Law 42/2007, of 13 December, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, which provides the general framework for the conservation of nature and biodiversity in Spain, including the protection of birds and their habitats. Also, Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 30 November 2009, on the conservation of wild birds, establishes rules for the protection of wild birds in the European Union, including the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of activities that may harm or disturb them.
Additionally, the Bern Convention, on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, signed in Bern in 1979, sets out the protection of wild flora and fauna and their habitats, including birds. Moreover, there is the Wildlife Protection Act, which regulates the protection of wild fauna and flora species in Spain, including birds, and establishes the rules for their conservation and management.
