Saturday, June 7, 08:00 hours, area of Roques de García in the Parque Nacional del Teide. The D-day and H-hour of the protest gathering convened by the Plataforma Canarias has a limit against the economic development model. It is maintained despite the rejection of the Cabildo of Tenerife, 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 Canarias. The Government Subdelegation ratified the authorization, a decision that the island corporation “complies but does not share,” according to the natural environmental advisor, Blanca Pérez. All this comes after the state governmental entity dismissed the proposed option to move the protest to the nearby area of El Portillo de la Villa, located within the Parque Natural de la Corona Forestal.
Alternative
Cabildo sources explain that this alternative location, close to the initially planned site, offers better logistical conditions and does not interfere with main traffic. They emphasize that “the call includes partially closing the TF-21 road for six hours, which is essential for the daily functioning of the National Park.” The proposal, they add, “aimed to allow the development of the gathering in conditions that would 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 act requires specific processing. They stress that “Teide is not just a protected area but a symbol for this Island, for all the residents of Tenerife, besides the fact that national parks are the highest form of environmental protection in Spain.”
Comply
“Evidently, we do not share the decision of the Government Subdelegation, although we comply,” emphasizes Blanca Pérez. She considers that “it is unacceptable to authorize this demonstration after reports from the park itself, which are not from this advisor or the president of the Cabildo but from the technicians who conclude that it should not be carried out.” The advisor recalls the alternative of El Portillo, outside the National Park, “but this allegation was not considered.” In any case, she adds, “it seems as inconsistent on the part of the Subdelegation as of the environmental organizations.” She argues: “I believe that demonstrating to save nature by harming nature is unacceptable.” Blanca Pérez understands 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 over the claims that one wants to raise.”
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 standpoint, and I believe such situations are unacceptable.” The advisor recalls that “more so if one takes into account that from the Tenerife Cabildo, significant efforts have been made to regulate access to Teide, and we are working on a mobility plan to control them.”
Eco-taxes
The sustainability, security, and emergency advisor points out that “the eco-taxes that we are going to implement in the park will mark a before and after for its functioning. Access to the Peak already does, to overcome the absolute overcrowding of recent years that this Cabildo has controlled with measures.”
Decisive
Rosa Dávila was decisive a few days ago when rejecting the initiative. She assured that the Teide “is not a backdrop for ideological battles, nor a theme park, nor a manifestódromo, but a natural sanctuary to be respected and protected.” She emphasized that “protesting for nature by pushing nature itself to the limits is an unacceptable contradiction.” She delved into that “a gathering in the heart of the National Park is not a gesture of love for the earth, it is recklessness.” She concluded: “This call is a grave error that discredits those who promote it and puts a natural area of high ecological value at risk.”
Silent
Sources from the Subdelegation defended the impossibility of prohibiting the gathering. Meanwhile, the convening groups clarify that the protest will involve crossing the TF-21 from La Ruleta to the Parador, on a return trip during an “respectful and conscious” action with the environment. Visitors will be asked to respect the park’s values, not to park outside official parking areas, nor to circulate outside the paths. The march will be silent on asphalt or sidewalk, without the use of loudspeakers, shouting or slogans, or banners fixed to the ground.
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