Saturday, June 7th, 08:00 hours, in the area of Roques de García in the Teide National Park. The D-day and H-hour for the protest gathering called by the Platform Canarias has a limit against the economic development model. It persists despite the opposition from the Tenerife Council, which was made public a week ago by its president, Rosa Dávila, and a negative report from the technicians of the main protected natural area of the Island and the Canary Islands. The Government Subdelegation confirmed the authorization, a decision that the island Corporation “accepts but does not agree with,” as stated by the counselor of Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez. All this after the state governmental body rejected the option proposed to move the protest to the nearby area of El Portillo de la Villa, located within the Crown Forestal Natural Park.
Alternative
Sources from the Council explain that this alternative location, near the initially planned one, presents better logistical conditions and does not interfere with main traffic. They emphasize that “the call includes partially cutting the TF-21 road for six hours, which is essential for the daily operation of the National Park.” They add that “the proposal sought to allow the development of the gathering in conditions that did not compromise the safety or organization of the Park itself.” In this regard, its director, Manuel Durbán, issued a negative report detailing that this type of event requires specific processing. They stress that “the Teide is not just a protected area but a symbol for this Island, for all the people of Tenerife, in addition to the fact that national parks represent the highest figure of environmental protection in Spain.”
Comply
“Obviously, we do not agree with the decision of the Government Subdelegation, although we comply with it,” emphasizes Blanca Pérez. She considers that “it’s not acceptable for this demonstration to be authorized after the reports from the park itself, which are not from this counselor or the president of the Council but from the technicians who conclude that it should not be carried out.” The counselor recalls the alternative of El Portillo, outside the National Park, “but that claim was not heeded.” In any case, she adds, “it seems inconsistent to us both on the part of the Subdelegation and the environmental organizations.” She argues: “I believe that demonstrating to save nature while harming nature is not acceptable.” Blanca Pérez believes that “the Teide National Park is an emblem of this Island that does not deserve to become an ideological and political weapon.” She emphasizes: “I think there are other places to demonstrate about the claims one might want to make.”
Symbol
Pérez values that “the Teide National Park is a symbol, but not only that, it is the highest-level natural space from an ecological point of view, and I don’t think it is acceptable for these situations to occur.” The counselor recalls that “even more so if you consider that the Tenerife Council has been making significant efforts to regulate access to the Teide and we are working on a mobility plan that controls them.”
Ecotaxes
The also counselor of Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies points out that “the ecotaxes we are going to implement in the park will represent a before and after for its operation. It’s already about managing access to the Peak to overcome the absolute overcrowding of recent years that this Council has controlled with measures.”
Demanding
Rosa Dávila was demanding a few days ago in rejecting the initiative. She stated that the Teide “is not a backdrop for ideological battles, nor a theme park, nor a protest venue, but a natural sanctuary to be respected and protected.” She stressed that “protesting for nature by taking nature to its limits is an unacceptable contradiction.” She elaborated that “a gathering in the heart of the National Park is not a gesture of love for the land, it is imprudent.” She concluded: “This gathering is a grave mistake that discredits those who promote it and endangers a natural area of high ecological value.
Silent
Sources from the Subdelegation defended the impossibility of prohibiting the gathering. Meanwhile, the convening collectives clarify that the protest will consist of crossing the TF-21 from La Ruleta to the Parador, in a round trip during an action “respectful and mindful” of the environment. Visitors will be asked to respect the park’s values, not to park outside official parking areas nor walk off trails. The march will be silent on asphalt or pavement, without the use of megaphones, shouts, or slogans, and no banners fixed to the ground.
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