Changes to endangered species list on the Canaries upsets ecologists

Changes to endangered species list on the Canaries upsets ecologists
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By h.b. - Dec 8, 2009 - 11:56 AM
Those who oppose the change blame real estate interests

The protest held on November 28 on Tenerife - EFE

The Canary Islands Government, made up of the Coalición Canaria and the Partido Popular, have approved a bill which intends to remove 50% of the species and sub-species from the protected list of flora and fauna on the islands.

The new registry will remove 226 protected species, reduce the protection for a further 131 and cover 94 in a way which some experts have, according to El País, described as ‘irrational and perverse’, given that the protection will only apply when the animal is inside a protected space.

Alberto Brito, from the La Launa University says the change is a crime, and acts against biodiversity and national resources. Ecologists the changes come because of real estate and infrastructure interests, as many of the protected species have previously halted such developments.

Coalición Canaria defend their proposals however with spokesman, José Miguel González, claiming that the changes are backed by the Constitutional Court, and that a new classification called ‘species of interest’ would guarantee protection.

Hundreds of people took part in a demonstration at the end of last Month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, forming a human chain round the parliament building to call for the new catalogue of endangered species to be withdrawn.

(Environment story)

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