Protected Area in Spain Saved from Massive Development Project

We are happy to share fantastic news from Spain – the Cabo Cope and Puntas de Calnegre natural protected areas on the southeast coast of Spain have been saved from a massive commercial and residential development.

Eduardo Salazar-Ortuño, founder of Asociación para la Justicia Ambiental (AJA), says, “It was like Captain Ahab against Moby Dick…ELAW partners inspired me during this long battle.”

Eduardo worked for 16 years to protect 2,100 coastal hectares from plans to build Marina de Cope, an enormous commercial and residential development with 9,000 homes, six golf courses, a marina, and hotels with 22,000 beds.

ELAW U.S. attorneys and scientists provided Eduardo with legal and scientific support. Eduardo also received valuable support from ELAW partners in Spain and Costa Rica, and professors at the University of Murcia.

When Eduardo announced his long fought win, ELAW partners from India, Mexico, Ukraine, Jamaica, Uruguay, Slovakia, Colombia, Chile, Malaysia, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Peru all congratulated him on his tremendous victory!

Eduardo began working to protect these natural areas following his participation in the 2000 ELAW Annual International Meeting. Winning victories for communities and the environment takes terrific courage, patience, and perseverance.

Congratulations Eduardo. We are inspired by your work!

For more information, see:
Radio Murcia, Eduardo Salazar: “Like the song of María Jiménez, it’s over”

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide
maggie@elaw.org

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