The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, warns that authorizing a demonstration in Teide by the Government of Spain “sets a dangerous precedent for the country’s national parks.” Dávila emphasizes that “it is not just a protected natural area, but the crown jewel and a symbol for all Tenerife residents.” She also points out that “it cannot be allowed to become a protest area.” She stresses that “this Corporation and the Park’s director —Manuel Durbán— issued negative reports for legal, technical, and operational reasons.” The nationalist politician calls the decision by the State Government Delegation to authorize the gathering a “serious error” and a “nonsense.”
Conservation
Island sources insist that “never before have so many active conservation measures been promoted for the Teide National Park.” The commitment to its protection, they add, “is realized in a package of actions to address the impact of visitor pressure and preserve its invaluable ecosystem.”
Unprecedented
Rosa Dávila criticizes “an unprecedented action in Spain.” In her view, allowing a demonstration in the heart of Teide “lacks common sense” and “violates the basic principle of conserving one of the Archipelago’s most valuable natural spaces.” She declares: “This decision is a new demonstration of the institutional neglect the islands are subjected to by the Government of Spain.”
Reports
Dávila underlines that “not only are the unfavorable technical reports from the Cabildo ignored, but actions are taken behind the backs of those of us who manage and protect this territory daily.” She regrets that the central government “has ignored all warnings, including the negative report from the director of Teide National Park.”
Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo of Tenerife / E.D.
Unacceptable
“It is unacceptable that decisions of this magnitude are made without consulting those who know the reality of the territory and work to preserve its balance,” she adds. The Teide National Park administration itself warned that “the demonstration constitutes an extraordinary activity that requires specific processing.” This includes “the submission of complete documentation and the mandatory report of the Park’s Board. None of these requirements have been met.” Therefore, the managing body issued an unfavorable report from an environmental perspective.
Protests
The Cabildo recalls that “there are no precedents in Spain of an authorized demonstration inside a National Park.” Related protests “have always been held in nearby areas or urban environments like in the case of Doñana.” The authorization of this call could create a “dangerous precedent,” indicates Dávila, and open the door to future similar events. National Parks represent the highest form of environmental protection in Spain and Royal Decree 389/2016 —which regulates the operation of the Network— expressly prohibits authorizing activities that interfere with their normal functioning.
Road
The gathering on the upcoming June 7 “includes the partial closure of the TF-21 road for six hours” in a high-traffic area during the weekend. A “key route for the normal functioning of the Teide National Park.” Its interruption “poses a significant operational risk and a safety problem,” as also warned by the Park’s administration.
Respect
From the outset, the Cabildo “has shown the utmost respect for the constitutional right to protest and freedom of expression.” In this regard, the president comments that “this is not about the right to protest, which is sacred. It is about the political use of a protected natural space and how Tenerife and its institutions are disregarded from Madrid.”
Disconnection
Dávila also frames the authorization of the gathering in a broader context of “institutional disconnection to the Canary Islands by the State.” She relates this to “overcrowding at airports, a lack of response to immigration, and now with Teide.”
The platform ‘Canarias tiene un límite’ unveils its alternative model with more than 1,200 contributions
Alternative model
The platform Canarias tiene un límite, which brings together more than 75 social groups from the Archipelago and is the promoter of this Saturday’s gathering in Teide, today presented its alternative development model which includes in the document over 80 measures for a model change. Address sustainability in the Canary Islands.
Manifesto
The promoters read the manifesto, which arises from a citizen participation process with more than 1,200 contributions, in front of the Government Presidency headquarters where they intend to forward it through registration. They warn that patience is running out with delay in changing the economic model. “We won’t let anything slide,” they stress, and claim to be “motivated” to “take to the streets” in defense of the Canary Islands, which “is our land, our home, not that of Ms. Dávila, Mr. Clavijo and company, even if they try to paraphrase us in their empty and deceitful speeches.”
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