The regional Executive has agreed to resume the draft Biodiversity and Natural Resources Law, which will be processed urgently to provide the islands with a proper and updated regulatory framework.
The Canary Islands Government Council has given the green light to restart the procedures for the Draft Biodiversity and Natural Resources Law of the archipelago, a regulation that aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the protection and sustainable management of the islands' natural heritage. The processing will be carried out urgently, as reported by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy, led by Mariano H. Zapata.
The decision comes after the original text, which had already progressed in previous phases, received comments from the Advisory Council highlighting technical deficiencies and potential legal uncertainties. The new document incorporates substantial modifications to address these issues and strengthen its regulatory coherence, avoiding duplications with basic state legislation.
The future law will allow the Canary Islands to have, for the first time, its own regulation that integrates and organizes the planning, conservation, and management instruments for biodiversity, currently scattered across different provisions. Additionally, it will adapt the regulation to the peculiarities of the insular territory, characterized by its high biodiversity, significant endemism, and ecosystem fragility.
The draft includes the protection of the marine environment and coastal ecosystems, in line with autonomous competencies, and establishes a common framework for the conservation of species and habitats, as well as for the sustainable management of natural resources. It also anticipates the integration of existing scientific knowledge and environmental monitoring systems in the archipelago.
The urgent processing responds to the need to provide the Canary Islands with a systematic and updated regulatory instrument that develops state legislation on biodiversity. The revised text builds on previous work already done but incorporates improvements that justify the initiation of a new administrative procedure.
Among the new features, coordination mechanisms between public administrations are strengthened, and intervention instruments for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of natural heritage are organized. The Advisory Council had warned of potential overlaps with basic state regulations and risks of legal uncertainty, aspects that have been corrected in the new document.
The future law will represent a significant advance for the protection of Canary biodiversity, which faces threats such as urban pressure, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species. With this regulation, the regional Executive aims to organize planning and management tools, as well as harmonize conservation criteria across the different islands.
The draft will now begin its administrative processing, which will include the corresponding reports, consultations, and phases of public participation before its approval as a bill. It is expected that the process can be completed in a shorter timeframe due to the declaration of urgency.
For the citizens of the Canary Islands, this law will provide greater legal certainty in the protection of the natural environment, as well as more efficient management of resources. The regulation will affect activities such as tourism, agriculture, or fishing, which will need to adapt to the new sustainability requirements.
The Canary Government is confident that the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Law will become a benchmark for the conservation of the archipelago's natural heritage, ensuring its protection for future generations.
You may also like
