The environmental group ‘Amigos del Parque” has filed a complaint to the European Commission (EC). It concerns the desiccation that has been affecting Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata’s protected wetland for several weeks. Since it believes that the situation is a violation of the Community Directive for the Conservation of Natural Habits and Wild Flora and Fauna, the organization considers the situation to be a “violation”.
Europa Press consulted the complaint to highlight the “serious implications” of the lack of water entering the lagoon for the Cabo de Gata–Nijar natural reserve. The Junta de Andalucia is the competent administration that “never adopted any solution”.
It signifies that the desiccation process has resulted in it no longer “hosting a rich fauna that caracterizes it”. The EC is required to outline the international protection figures for this wetland. These include the Natura 2000 Network, protected birds, and the Ramsar List that places it at 448.
Accordingly, “Friends of Park” recalls that the Ramsar List convention’s main objective is “conservation of wetlands through local, regional, and national actions and with the help of international cooperation as a contribution towards sustainable development around the world.”
The complaint is filed by the conservation group explaining to the European Commission how Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata are commercially exploited. They take water from the foot of a cliff southeast of La Fabriquilla in an area called the Ancon de Cabo de Cat.
He explains that there are ponds or dams at the catchment point that are filled with water when the wind blows westward and waves are sufficiently strong. This allows the water to flow underground through a gallery measuring 1,300m long, which then reaches the salt flats. The space’s northern end is reached by a channel that runs through the open channel.
According to the complaint, water can be pumped through the channel if there are no waves or water doesn’t enter the channel naturally.
“Whatever the reason, we believe that the situation is serious harming the Salinas de Cabo de Gata, which is an area of exceptional ecological value because of its importance to plant communities. EC.
According to the complaint, the Junta de Andalucia has made substantial economic investments in the wetland over the years through actions to conserve and restore bird nesting habitats and actions to promote public use, communication and dissemination actions, as well surveillance and security.
He cites as examples the establishment of a perimeter fence around a wetland, restoration of dikes and creation of artificial islands to encourage nesting. The installation of anti-predator system at the ends, construction of a perimeter pedestrian pathway, and four bird observatories.
“It is public cash that has been and continues to be invested into the maintenance of these facilities and that makes no sense when the wetland dies,” emphasizes ‘Amigos del Parque, which calls on the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Development Sustainable (MALD) to take measures of an “urgent nature”. If it doesn’t, it warns that the wetland “in a few hours, it will be completely dry, with dire implications for the habitats and the species it hosts.”
Europa Press was informed by the environmental group that they believe the decision to bring the case to European authorities stems from the fact that they are concerned about a situation that is causing irreversible damage to Las Salinas de Gata. They also assured that there is regulation to protect>> that allows for the EC’s intervention and that they will open a file with the Kingdom of Spain.
“We believe the European Commission should assess whether the measures adopted are adequate, and without getting into the debate about who is responsible.” They added that this step was necessary in addition to the Almeria Prosecutor’s Office complaint.
They have been informed by ‘Friends of the Park” that the Andalusian Board, considering the “background”, around Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata and the Andalusian Board, “should have sought support form other administrations to implement an emergency solution in a secondary way.” They concluded that the citizens demand they act fast because they have mobilized.
