The Lanzarote branch of the PSOE party has condemned the island government’s decision to annul the announcement of the approval of the Plan for the Management of Natural Resources (PORN) for the Los Volcanes Natural Park. This came after officials found that the official publication in the Las Palmas Official Bulletin (BOP) was incomplete.
On Wednesday, the Lanzarote Cabildo had declared that the PORN had been processed and would come into effect within 15 working days following its publication the same day.
The socialists stated that the document lacked vital information, specifically the annex relating to the legislation. Ariagona González, spokesperson for the Socialist Group in the Cabildo, claimed the situation “perfectly summarises a governing style focused on announcements rather than proper management.” She highlighted that this oversight affects “one of the main instruments for the management of a protected area in Lanzarote.”
González also reminded that the socialist group previously opposed the PORN last July, citing “legal and environmental weaknesses,” particularly regarding the park’s carrying capacity and future regulations on usage, trails, parking, and infrastructure. She warned that “hurry, arrogance, and refusal to listen could jeopardise a document that needed to be created with all necessary guarantees.”
The PORN outlines guidelines for the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of natural resources, along with considerations for the management of the area.
Significantly, the plan recognises El Golfo as a consolidated urban area within the territorial planning, enabling many property owners to initiate procedures to legally register their properties and regularise their situations according to current regulations.
The plan also includes modifications in Yaiza to ensure the availability of land for future public facilities, such as the expansion of the health centre and enhancements to municipal sports facilities. Additionally, certain areas are transitioning from protected rural land to rural settlement land.
