Outrage over the Viento del Noreste (Desert Watch) Association claims to have received "with disbelief" the news that the different administrations of the island, such as the Cabildo and town councils, have authorized the Isla de los Volcanes Rally for another year, which will be held on the 29th and 30th of this month. The organization points out that this event runs through a large part of the center of Lanzarote, "including a part that will take place within the El Jable area," so they warn of the impact it could have on the fauna and flora of this area. Therefore, they request that this section of the sporting event be eliminated "forever."
The organization emphasizes that El Jable "is a corridor of organoleptic sands where the life of a fragile and unique ecosystem in the archipelago abounds." In addition, they highlight "its desert character." "The flora and avifauna are two of the pillars on which it is based that a large part of this territory enjoys some protective declaration, such as the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park or the Special Protection Area for the Birds of the northern islets of Lanzarote and Famara," explain from the organization.
"While these areas do not cover the entire ecosystem of the El Jable Desert, the species that develop their life cycle in it do, and that is why any action carried out on this area must be treated with special sensitivity and care," add from Viento del Noreste.
The Association also details that one of the characteristics of the avifauna of El Jable, which makes it so sensitive to this type of event, is that "the steppe birds nest directly on the ground, so in the period of courtship, nesting and breeding they are very sensitive to disturbances, which can cause from the suppression of laying to the abandonment of chicks due to stress."
"This danger is not limited exclusively to birds, but after the scarce rains of this year, the explosion of the endemic and exclusive flora of El Jable of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, such as the cat's garlic, attracts numerous species of insects, reptiles and small mammals such as the shrew present in the place," say from Viento del Noreste. In addition, they affirm that it is, in short, "a rich biodiversity that has aroused the interest of scientists from all over the world and that must be treated with due care."
The rally fans exert the greatest pressure on the ecosystem
The Association points out that it has detected that the greatest pressure "is exerted by followers of these sporting events," who occupy with their own vehicles "the areas near the route that coincide with areas of nuptial dances of the houbara bustard and where the nesting of the Saharan runner and the stone curlew is in a critical phase of hatching or feeding of small chicks."
They also point out that in past calls it has also been detected "the abandonment of garbage, the invasion of spectators of areas of high ecological value or the compaction of the sand by the passage of vehicles," as well as "aggressions that may have been perpetrated due to a widespread absence of surveillance by the authorities that must guarantee the conservation of this space."
The Viento del Noreste Association requests that, in the interest of coherence with the official declarations on sustainable development, conservation and many other projects in which the enormous natural values of El Jable are mentioned, "said authorities respect this delicate habitat and eliminate the section that passes through El Jable from the competition forever."
