The Salvar La Tejita Ecological Association has lodged a complaint with the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of Santa Cruz de Tenerife regarding the damage inflicted by the works of the Cuna del Alma tourist project, located near Puertito de Adeje (southern Tenerife), which have now recommenced.
The platform indicates that the developer Segunda Casa Adeje SL resumed construction on 14 November after a two-year hiatus in earthworks.
The environmentalists remind in their statement that in November 2022, the prior Government of the Canary Islands issued three precautionary orders to halt the construction due to damage to protected flora, the absence of an environmental impact assessment, and harm to archaeological sites.
They now assert that “the excavators have cleared approximately 9,000 square metres of land that had remained untouched until recently.”
Specifically, this area pertains to the layout of two roads in Sector 6 of the General Plan of Adeje, where the habitat of community interest 5330 (cardonal-tabaibal) is situated, which is protected under European directives; it also includes the largest population of sad viborina in the region, a protected species that previously halted construction in November 2022, along with two archaeological sites.
Consequently, the environmental association has urged the Public Prosecutor’s Office to provisionally halt the works “to prevent further violations against archaeological heritage that are inflicting irreversible damage.”
The details of the complaint, supported by technical reports, indicate that a significant archaeological site, featuring engravings and cabin structures, was devastated in 2022.
Work commenced despite two adverse reports from the heritage department of the Cabildo of Tenerife and an archaeological report produced by ARQUEOCANARIAS, SL (a firm engaged by the developer) in 2019, which was concealed from the authorities, according to the environmentalists.
This report identified the site that was ultimately annihilated, and even with evidence of its existence, the developer permitted machinery to demolish it.
Furthermore, they contend that the report disregarded the presence of at least three panels of engravings, which are archaeological assets with the utmost protection level.
This site, designated by the administration as PA 4, was also intentionally and partially eliminated (for the second time) by heavy machinery, despite being fenced off by the authorities.
In their view, “these extremely serious incidents compelled the General Directorate of Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islands to initiate disciplinary action against the developer Segunda Casa Adeje, SL for the commission of severe infractions that are liable to a
Sanction of 600,000 euros
Nevertheless, the present regional authority, in a “clear indication of collusion”, has permitted the sanctioning process to lapse, but “the criminal actions have not lapsed.”
The association believes that the developer “may bear criminal liability for committing an offence against the Historical Heritage as outlined and penalised in articles 323 and 324 of the Penal Code.”
In October 2022, a formal complaint was presented to the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office regarding various offences against heritage, territorial planning, flora and fauna, among others, involving approximately twenty political and technical officials linked to the authorisation of the project.
“Collusion” between the Canary Islands Government and the City Council
Environmental activists have reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office the “clear collusion” between the current Department of Ecological Transition of the Canary Islands Government, the Adeje City Council, and the development firm.
“For instance, over the past year, they have rescinded three work stoppage orders, permitted the sanctioning processes to lapse, and issued favourable reports. To compound matters, they have sanctioned unprecedented actions in the history of autonomous democracy, such as allowing a municipal council to assume responsibility for the management of protected species or designating all developable land in the municipality as ‘of general interest’ amidst the housing crisis,” they state.
With this latest complaint, they emphasise their aim for “justice to prevail, that no alleged crime goes unpunished, and more importantly, that works causing irreversible harm to the last untouched area of southwest Tenerife are halted.”