The Environment Councilor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Elena Solís, has responded to the controversy over the celebration of the Isla de los Volcanes Rally, whose sections run through the jable area, and which the Government of the Canary Islands considers “incompatible” with the permitted uses in the area. In addition, environmental associations such as Papa Cría, Ecologistas en Acción and Viento del Noreste also denounced the Rally's passage through the El Jable area.
From Podemos, they point out that the report from the biodiversity service of the regional government, which the councilor requested given its powers, determines that the impact on flora and fauna in critical danger of extinction is “very significant”.
Faced with this scenario, both Elena Solís and the island director of the Environment, Yarci Acosta, "will scrupulously respect the technical criteria and will not approve the rally project as proposed by the organizers due to the risk it poses to biodiversity and the more than 80 protected species that inhabit the area."
From Podemos, they highlight the impact that, if carried out, will be caused, among others, "on the Natural Habitat of Community Interest composed of the dune area in the jable of Soo and Muñique." Elena Solís also wanted to remember that the Administration "has the duty to conserve these spaces in accordance with the different regulations, both regional and European."
Given the logical concern of the organizing groups of the automobile event, Solís and Acosta proceeded, during a meeting held on the morning of this Thursday, "to personally explain the situation to them and the impossibility of acting against the technical criteria of public personnel, whose mission is to protect nature."
“Authorizing with that report on the table would be an absolute irresponsibility with the island and its unique habitat that attracts so many people, not only tourists but also scientists and researchers from all over the world,” says Solís.
After said meeting, the organizers assured that "they would present some modifications to the project so that the Biodiversity Service of the regional government would issue a new report or ratify the one already issued", a response that from Podemos they affirm that until now "has not occurred".
In the same way, the rest of the councilors of the purple group, Jorge Peñas and Myriam Barros, share and celebrate Solís's “brave, fair and necessary” decision. “We can only be on the side of compliance with environmental protection regulations and technical and regulatory decisions,” the councilors add.