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Definitive Victory for Spain’s Marina de Cope
PHOTOS: Juan Goca
After almost twenty years of social and judicial battles for the defense of the Regional Park “Calnegre and Cabo Cope,” the door is finally closed to further appeals by the developer. In October, the Supreme Court of Spain dismissed the appeals of Iberdrola Inmobiliaria SAU, owner of a large amount of land in the Cope Marina, and declared the last Judgment of the Superior Court of Justice of the Region of Murcia of January 25, 2019 final.
This stretch of coastline is one of the few remaining wild areas along the coast of Murcia, and is home to endangered species and unique plant life. Since 1992, the Cabo Cope-Puntas de Calnegre Regional Park has been recognized for its important ecological, landscape, and geomorphological values, including 700 hectares of internationally recognized habitats, among which are priority marine ecosystems.
Iniciativa Ciudadana y Profesional para la Defensa Jurídica del Litoral (Prolitoral), defended by ELAW partner Dr. Eduardo Salazar Ortuño, celebrate the hard-won victory! Prolitoral is a collective formed by Ecologistas en Acción, the Asociación de Naturalistas del Sureste (ANSE), Amacora and other environmental and legal professionals. These organizations now seek immediate approval of the “Regional Park’s Natural Resources Land Plan.”
Eduardo affirms that, “the definitive decision of the protection of the Park will end with the discussion about the future of the area, the last wild landscape in the Murcia’s coast. The Park was declared 30 years ago but the regional Administration was not able to enforce the law and manage the area. This is a victory for all lovers of nature and for the future generations… and a great impulse for a change in the management of the coast in Spain.” Eduardo writes, “Thanks to all the ELAW partners who supported the case during the last 20 years and especially to Ginés Ruiz Maciá, who was working on it.”
In 2017, ELAW shared news of a favorable decision to stop this short-sighted coastal development, but the project rose up again before being put down permanently in October. Congratulations to all the people who worked so hard to protect this wild gem!
For more information, please see:
Sentencia TS Marina de Cope: Full Decision
Executive Director
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide