Protected Natural Areas in the Canary Islands: Legal Framework

Posted on Dec 12, 2024 in Geography

Commentary on the Chart of the Autonomous Region Protected Areas

Legal Framework for Conservation

Our current assessment of the ecological heritage has led to the development of policies for conservation and protection of natural areas and wildlife.

In 1916, the National Parks Act was created, establishing the first two National Parks (PN): Covadonga and Valle de Ordesa two years later.

At present, the law of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (2007) regulates and sets standards for the conservation of our natural ecosystems. The law states that areas worthy of preservation have the status of protected natural areas.

Five categories of protected natural areas are distinguished:

1. Parks: Natural areas that are little changed by occupying forces or human activity, which must be retained for the beauty of their landscapes, ecosystems, unique wildlife, flora, or geology. Within the park, there are two categories:
   1. National Parks: Natural areas of high ecological and cultural value whose conservation is of general interest to the nation. They are managed jointly by the State and the Autonomous Region.
   2. Natural Parks: These are spaces that have a greater relationship with the rural world. They maintain agricultural activities or exploitation of primary resources, cultural and leisure activities. The Autonomous Region manages them.
2. Marine Protected Areas: These are protected due to the rarity, fragility, and uniqueness of marine ecosystems. They limit the exploitation of marine resources.
3. Nature Reserves: These are natural areas valued for their rarity, fragility, and importance of ecosystems. The exploitation of resources is limited to those activities consistent with the values to be protected.
4. Natural Monuments: These are spaces or elements of nature that contain unique formations that deserve special protection.
5. Protected Landscapes: These are specific locations with high aesthetic and cultural value.

To these five categories, the protected areas of Natura 2000 are incorporated (LIC – Sites of Community Importance, Special Areas of Conservation – SACs, and Special Protection Areas for Birds – SPAs).

The law also includes areas protected by international instruments: specially protected areas of importance for the Mediterranean and the Biosphere Reserves, both declared by UNESCO, and Wetlands of International Importance of the Ramsar Convention.

In conclusion, more than 11.8% of the Spanish surface forms part of the protected areas. Andalusia has the most protected area in absolute terms, and the Canary Islands is the community with the largest areas in relative terms (42.6%) of its territory.

Canary Islands

Until the development of autonomy, the history of protected areas was linked to the rest of Spain.

The National Parks Act declared the Parque Nacional del Teide and the Caldera de Taburiente; Timanfaya in 1974, and Garajonay in 1981.

Later, in 1982, other natural areas were declared with a special protection regime (Dunas de Maspalomas, Isla de Lobos, and others).

In 1987, the first law of conservation of Canarian protected areas was published. After the publication of the national Law of Conservation of Natural Areas, it had to be adjusted through the Natural Spaces Act of the Canary Islands in 1994, which is currently in force.

The Figures of Protection of the Law of Natural Areas of the Canary Islands, 1994

The following categories of protection are established:

To these seven categories, we should add the National Park, as the Natural Spaces Act of 1989 aims to conserve a representative area of one of the leading Spanish natural systems.

Las Cañadas del Teide is the most visited and is a spectacular example of a volcanic high mountain ecosystem, with 13,500 hectares. The Caldera is the largest multi-firing slip and erosion area in Spain, with 4,690 hectares. Timanfaya is a unique example of an almost lunar landscape resulting from volcanic eruptions that affected Lanzarote between 1732 and 1736, with 5,107 hectares. Finally, Garajonay represents the survival of an ecosystem that disappeared in Europe several thousand years ago, the laurel forest, a relict of the Tertiary forest in Europe, with 3,984 hectares.

Global Site Protection

We refer to the Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage designated sites.

Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems that have developed solutions to reconcile biodiversity and sustainable use of that territory. In the Canary Islands, there are four: the islands of El Hierro, Lanzarote, La Palma, and part of Gran Canaria.

World Natural Heritage of Humanity sites are delineated areas that are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty. In the Canary Islands, there are two: Garajonay National Park and Mount Teide.

Benefits of Conservation and Main Threats

The ultimate goal of conservation is to preserve their values and natural resources, including biodiversity, heritage value, resources, and landscape values. But also, in the Canary Islands, the importance of tourism makes conservation a priority need. Finally, it is important to note that imposing a model of sustainable development in densely populated island territories is crucial.

However, there are strong pressures on these natural areas:

• Fires
• Urban pressure
• Construction of highways, power lines
• Lack of interest or otherwise from the government
• Pressure from visitors and inhabitants