World
NGOs collect over 260,000 signatures to protect Spain’s Doñana park
A group of NGOs has handed the European Commission a petition with more than 260,000 signatures to protect Spain’s Doñana National Park.
The organisations believe the park is under threat by a draft law submitted by the right-wing government of Andalucía, which would significantly expand the areas of irrigation for local farmers.
The proposed legislation has unleashed a political storm, pitting Spain’s progressive parties, which control the central government and forcefully oppose the Andalusian measure, and the conservatives, which recently made gains in local elections.
The dispute reached Brussels after the European Commission publicly voiced concerns about the plans and urged the Spanish authorities to abide by a ruling issued in 2021 by the European Court of Justice.
The court had condemned Spain for failing to adequately protect the park against “excessive abstraction of water” and the ensuing damage to its habitats.
Doñana, which has the legal category of a natural reserve, is renowned for its unique ecosystems and rich wildlife, including endangered species like the Iberian lynx. It also represents an important route for millions of birds that every year migrate from Northern Europe to Africa every year.
But this rich biodiversity has for decades been under the pressure of intensive farming, over-exploitation, the draining of marshes, the prevalence of illegal wells and the continued influx of tourists, adding to the woes caused by climate change.
The draft law has further compounded the anxiety about the park’s future as reflected in the 262,728 signatures gathered by the Ecologistas en Acción, Salvemos Doñana, SEO/BirdLife, Wemove and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The NGOs met on Wednesday afternoon with Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for the environment, and personally handed him the collection of signatures, in a direct appeal for action to safeguard Doñana’s aquifers.
“We want to stop this law. We came here because we want to stop it. And we’re going to do everything possible,” Nuria Blázquez, from Ecologistas en Acción, told Euronews before heading to the meeting.
“If we don’t stop it before it’s approved, it’ll be stopped by the European Commission or the Spanish people because we cannot allow the destruction of Doñana.”
The NGOs called on Sinkevičius, who has spoken in defence of the natural reserve, to take legal steps but the executive cannot launch a formal case until the law goes through the Andalusian parliament and enters into force.
The legislative process is currently on hold, pending the snap general elections scheduled to be held on 23 July.
Juan Manuel Moreno, the premier of the Andalusian government, said last week he was open to the “possibility of including modifications that could improve the legal text,” even if the period to table amendments has already passed.
“No position should be immovable,” Moreno said.
The premier, however, defended the essence of the law and argued it was necessary to “provide an answer” to around 1,500 farmers who today work in legal limbo and whose harvests suffer from persistent drought.
The agricultural production in Doñana has a strong focus on red fruits like strawberries, which require consistent and abundant irrigation.
Moreno has previously said the expansion of watering areas would cover between 700 and 800 hectares. But according to an estimation released by WWF, the law, in its proposed form, would legalise up to 1,900 hectares.
The NGOs have used the new figure to support their opposition campaign against what they call an “ecological attack” on one of Europe’s most important wetlands.
“Politicians have a short-term view of winning elections every four years. You have to have a long-term vision. Today, you have to be coherent with what the experts say and what’s going on: we’re going to have less water, we’re going to have higher temperatures,” said Felipe Fuentelsaz, from World Wildlife Fund Spain.
“Therefore, betting on economic activities that necessitate an intensive usage of water means taking a step back. It’s a step back.”
World
New Caledonia protesters, police play 'cat and mouse' before Macron arrives
World
Howler monkeys dropping dead, falling from trees due to excessive heatwave: report
The extreme heatwave in Mexico is not only affecting the environment, it’s wreaking havoc on the howler monkeys and causing them to fall dead out of trees, the Associated Press reported.
“They were falling out of the trees like apples. They were in a state of severe dehydration, and they died within a matter of minutes,” wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo described what he witnessed to the AP.
In the city of Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, it was reported that the dead monkeys started appearing on Friday, when a local volunteer fire-and-rescue squad showed up with five of the monkeys in the bed of the truck.
So far, at least 83 howler monkeys have been found dead in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco. However, many others were rescued by local residents, with five being rushed to a local veterinarian for immediate care.
NEVADA WILDLIFE MYSTERY SOLVED, SUSPECTED WOLVES WERE ACTUALLY COYOTES
“They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever,” Dr. Sergio Valenzuela told the AP. “They were as limp as rags. It was heatstroke.”
At least nine cities in Mexico have set temperature records as of May 9, with Ciudad Victoria, in the border state of Tamaulipas, registering 117 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the AP. The heatwave has been blamed on the deaths of at least 26 people since March, the AP reported.
Valenzuela said that the monkeys appeared to be on the mend, stating that they were “recovering, aggressive, and biting again.”
The howler monkey, which is the “loudest of all the monkeys,” is known for its loud whooping bark or roar, according to National Geographic.
Pozo added that many local residents wanted to help the monkeys, even adopt them, but he cautioned them on this.
WILD MONKEYS SPOTTED ROAMING FLORIDA NEIGHBORHOODS: ‘ABSOLUTELY CRAZY’
“The truth is that babies are very delicate, they can’t be in a house where there are dogs or cats, because they have pathogens that can potentially be fatal for howler monkeys,” Ponzo described, stressing they must be rehabilitated and released into the wild.
Pozo’s group has set up a special recovery stations for the monkeys and is working to organize a team of specialized veterinarians to give the monkeys the care they need.
Howler monkeys also get almost all the water they need from the food they eat, which is another reason the heatwave has been detrimental to their survival.
Pozo stated that several factors led to the death of the monkeys, including high heat, drought, and forest fires.
THAI WILDLIFE OFFICIALS TO REMOVE HUNDREDS OF MONKEYS FROM POPULAR TOURIST SPOT
Days after the monkeys began to drop dead, Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged the issue, saying he had heard about it on social media.
He then congratulated Valenzuela on his efforts and said the government would seek to support the work.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
World
Norway will recognise Palestinian state, PM says
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,
Spain and Ireland are also expected to recognise Palestine despite Israel’s warnings of the consequences.
Norway will recognise Palestine as a state, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere says.
A two-state solution is in Israel’s best interest, he announces, adding that the recognition will come as of May 28.
“There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.”
Norway announcement comes as Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to announce later on Wednesday a date for formally recognising Palestinian statehood.
Ireland is also expected to announce its plans for the recognition of Palestine.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz has ordered Israel’s ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return to Israel.
“Ireland and Norway intend to send a message today to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays,” Katz said.
Israel has said that recognition from the European nations will “fuel extremism and instability” and make them a “pawn in the hands of Hamas”.
More to come …
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