Progress made on natural park declaration
Draft environmental plan increases the surface area of protected land, says Valencia
PROCEDURES to declare the Sierra Escalona and Dehesa de Campoamor a natural park are ‘being finalised’ by the regional department for the ecological transition.
The department led by councillor Isaura Navarro has fasttracked the administrative procedure, which is now in the preliminary public consultation phase, according to a regional government spokesman.
Ecologists have become increasingly frustrated at the slow progress with the park spanning land in Orihuela, Pilar de la Horadada and San Miguel de Salinas, which has stalled many times since it was first promised by the previous Partido Popular (PP) regional government in 2006.
Since a draft version of the plan for organisation of its natural resources (PORN) was published in the regional government’s official bulletin (DOGV) on Friday, affected authorities and interests (businesses and associations) have 45 days to register their opinions of the environmental legislation.
The spokesman said this draft increases the total surface area of protected land and organises ‘green infrastructure’ with ecological corridors to improve environmental connectivity; prevent alteration of habitats and contamination of water resources; preserve natural, aesthetic and agricultural heritage; ensure the park’s compatibility with traditional uses and activities; prevent or minimise activities which would deteriorate the landscape; and regulate urban development.
The current regional government declared the Sierra Escalona a ‘protected landscape’ in 2018 and making it a natural park is the next step to protect and conserve its ecological, environmental and aesthetic values in a way that is compatible with sustainable use of its resources, he added.
President of the association friends of the Sierra Escalona (ASE), Miguel Ángel Pavón said they would have to analyse the published documents in
order to decide whether they will present any objections.
He nevertheless concluded this was ‘an important step we have been demanding for a long time’.
All the documents can currently be consulted online at https://agroambient.gva.es/es/ web/espacios-naturales-protegi dos/anuncios-y-publicacio nes
In the meantime, members of the public can enjoy commanding views of San Miguel, the Torrevieja salt lakes and the surrounding areas from a new viewing point.
San Miguel town hall has installed a wooden bench and a shelter on the Colada de la Sierra Escalona, a livestock trail from the edge of Las Filipinas urbanisation on the border with Orihuela Costa, which residents had to battle for years to keep open and protect from being usurped by private interests.
The town hall asked people to respect the new installation and the area as well.