PP, PSOE, Vox and Compromís have been approved by unanimity This Wednesday the start of the necessary steps to obtain the declaration of The Albufera as Biosphere reserve.
The plenary session of the City Council thus approved one of the objectives started more than ten years ago. Thanks to the environmental recognition granted by the UNESCOValencia City Hall highlights the “importance of protecting the main Valencian ecosystem“.
The delegated councilor of Devesa-Albufera, Vicente Gosalbezreaffirmed the defensive nature of the Valencian natural ecosystem. “The Albufera declaration will be the first to preserve a 100% Valencian territory” he stressed.
“Currently, there are 700 places around the planetout of 130 countries, which have the declaration of biosphere reserve. Of the 55 in Spain, two of them are in the Valencian Community“, recalls Gosálbez.
The plenary agreement comes after the Urban Planning Commission approved a week ago to propose to the plenary to promote the necessary procedures to achieve the declaration.
It should be recalled that this action is part of the context of the European Green Capital that Valencia exercises this year 2024. According to the advisor of Vox, the declaration of Biosphere Reserve “will strengthen the economic development of Valencia“.
He did, however, stress three functions bases of the declaration: “the conservation of natural and cultural diversity of the natural park, the support economic and social developmentand the research support“. And he recalled “the historic agreement of 13 municipalities in favor of the initiative.”
María José Catalá during the plenary session. EE
The Albufera is one of the main coastal lagoon environments in the Mediterranean and is accredited as “City of wetlands” of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and protected as a natural park, site of community interest and special protection area for birds.
Study and conservation
The new recognition of an area as a biosphere reserve implies its special protection, study and conservation within the framework of the project”Man and the biosphere” (MAB, for its acronym in English).
It is a global network that promotes exchange of knowledge and practices on sustainability and conservationThe MAB project seeks to balance nature conservation and human well-being, based on sustainable development.
Being declared a biosphere reserve does not imply the approval of specific regulations that imply new regulations for its protection or the human activity permitted in this space.
The Albufera of Valencia. Robert Solsona / Europa Press
As Councilor José Gosálbez explained, “Caring for and protecting L’Albufera is the municipality’s project for the lake this is what we are doing, insisting on this statement, the treatment of which we are promoting today.
Support and criticism
Although the launch of the procedures was unanimously approved by all political groups, Opposition groups criticized the municipal government.
Elisa Valiaadvisor to the socialist group, assured that “PP and Vox are achieving policies against the fight against climate change“.
Furthermore, he stated that the PSPV “will not whitewash policies in favor of automobiles and air pollution, as well as canceling all the projects that have allowed Valencia to be a leading city in the fight against climate change.”
Finally, Valía regretted that the management of the Albufera Natural Park “is in the hands of a convinced negationist“, referring to Vox advisor José Gosálbez.
Alongside the PSPV, Commitments He also criticized the environmental policies promoted by PP and Vox. Sergi CampilloCompromís advisor, recalled that L’Albufera “deserves the consensus of the political class“.
Furthermore, he accused the local government of “breaking the balance and using environmental promotion actions to greenwashing (simulating ecological policies) in order to promote a brand image to, in reality, attract tourists.
Campillo regretted that the government “while asking for protection with one hand, with the other, unprotects the lake,” and cited as an example the hotel recovery project. Sidi Saler.
