The Island Council denounces irregularities and forwards to the Seprona (Nature Protection Service) the reports prepared by the Environment, Historical Heritage and Water departments regarding the works in Veneguera

 

Protection of natural and archaeological heritage in the Veneguera Ravine, Gran Canaria

 

The Gran Canaria Island Council has submitted reports prepared by the Department of the Environment , the Historical Heritage Service , and the Island Water Council to the Nature Protection Service of the Civil Guard (SEPRONA) . These documents stem from construction work undertaken by the company Costa Canaria de Veneguera, SA on its property located in the ravine of the same name, within the boundaries of the Nublo Rural Park and the Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve , areas recognized for their extraordinary environmental, scenic, archaeological, and cultural value.

 

The relocation is in response to recent requests from SEPRONA (the Nature Protection Service of the Civil Guard). The reports provided by the Island Council stem from the ongoing monitoring this institution conducts of the activities detected in Veneguera. This area is notable not only for its high natural value but also because it harbors habitats of community interest and is a priority area for bird conservation, in addition to preserving key elements of the island's archaeological heritage. All of this justifies increased oversight by the Island Government.

 

 

Impact on cultural and archaeological assets in Gran Canaria

 

Among the submitted documentation are reports from the Historical Heritage Service revealing significant impacts: the earthmoving and sloping works have directly affected the Cañada de la Mar Archaeological Zone, a listed Property of Cultural Interest (BIC) , impacting at least four pre-Hispanic stone structures. According to technical reports, these interventions penetrated up to 17 meters into the BIC, representing considerable damage to the pre-Hispanic communities associated with this territory.

 

The Historical Heritage department has concluded that the extensive earthworks and clearing operations have altered five archaeological sites, causing total or partial destruction and irreparable loss. These actions constitute very serious damage to the island's archaeological heritage, and the matter has therefore been referred to the regional government with jurisdiction over sanctions.

 

 

The experts particularly highlight the near-total disappearance of the Lomo de Los Gatos archaeological site in Tabaibales and the significant loss at Lomo de la Canal. Furthermore, they emphasize that the construction work lacks both the required comprehensive archaeological study and the necessary monitoring to preserve these heritage assets.

 

Administrative procedures for urban planning violations in Veneguera

 

The Ministry of the Environment indicates that the reported events have been brought to the attention of the Canary Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment , the body responsible for initiating and instructing sanctioning procedures for possible urban planning infractions committed within the Nublo Rural Park.

 

Furthermore, it is emphasized that neither the Mogán City Council nor Costa Canaria de Veneguera, SA, have requested the mandatory environmental compatibility report required before granting any license or permit for actions located within the protected area.

 

Aerial inspection by helicopter carried out this Friday, July 17

Environmental inspection and monitoring in the Veneguera Ravine

 

 

Given the impossibility of accessing the area by land due to company restrictions, the Gran Canaria Island Council , through the Department of Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge, deployed a helicopter with Environmental Agents this Friday, July 17, to inspect the work carried out in the area.

 

The use of aerial resources has been essential due to the difficulties of accessing the area under inspection by land, a large part of which is integrated into the property owned by Costa Canaria de Veneguera, SA. Thanks to the helicopter, the agents have been able to obtain a complete view of the current state of the protected natural environment and draw up reports that will be incorporated into the ongoing administrative files.

 

The actions currently under inspection are not an isolated incident. The Island Council has been continuously monitoring this area for months. Island technical reports had already warned about various interventions carried out both in the ravine and on its adjacent slopes. It was concluded that, due to their potential cumulative and synergistic effects on the protected natural area, all these actions should be analyzed together to assess their environmental and heritage impact.

 

Project 'Cleaning and Renaturalization of Veneguera Beach'

 

In recent months, the Island Council has intensified inspection and monitoring efforts related to the project entitled 'Cleaning and Renaturalization of Veneguera Beach' . Environmental Agents have conducted on-site inspections, recording GPS coordinates, taking photographs, and preparing detailed reports. As a result, the technical services issued reports warning of the magnitude and potential impact on protected community habitats, threatened native vegetation, the island's archaeological heritage, and the landscape.

 

Furthermore, during this exhaustive monitoring, it became evident that some interventions may have exceeded what was legally authorized and that it was necessary to comprehensively evaluate all the actions detected.

 

New inspections and administrative actions in Veneguera

 

Following reports from the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA), new construction projects allegedly carried out without the required permits have been detected, such as the construction of two drawbridges in the Veneguera Ravine. To verify the current state of these projects on-site and document their scope, the Island Council has reinforced inspection efforts with a new aerial and ground survey of the area.

 

Meanwhile, SEPRONA is maintaining open investigations into the various incidents detected in Veneguera under the direction of the Public Prosecutor's Office, with the aim of clarifying the circumstances in which the different interventions were carried out and determining, if appropriate, the resulting legal responsibilities.

 

In the administrative sphere, the Gran Canaria Island Council acts in coordination with the Canary Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment —the competent body to initiate and conduct sanctioning procedures for possible urban planning violations— as well as with the Gran Canaria Island Water Council, given that the public water domain could be affected and it may be necessary to verify the relevant authorizations.

 

These actions reinforce the importance of regulatory compliance and the protection of both natural and archaeological heritage in protected areas such as Veneguera, within the Nublo Rural Park and the Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve. Ongoing monitoring by the Island Council ensures that any intervention is assessed in accordance with the environmental, landscape, and cultural values ​​that characterize this unique enclave in the Canary Islands.