Portal de Santomera
www.portaldesantomera.com
Ecologists in Action Murcia region has complained to the competent authorities that the installation of a high voltage power line in the municipality of Santomera, and its subsequent implementation, will cause a serious environmental impact on flora and fauna protected area and in the archaeological heritage of the area.
Specifically, it is the high voltage line called "aerial line / underground MT 20 Kv D / C North Beniel", whose route is located in the vicinity of the Sierra de Orihuela and next to the "LIC ES6200033 Cave Las Yeseras ", in Santomera.
The circumstance occurs that the Sierra de Orihuela has the consideration of SCI and ZEPA in its part of Alicante, but does not possess any of the two figures of protection in its Murcian part, although both have the same natural values.
Something that Ecologists in Action has been denouncing for years, and calling on the Regional Government to recognize these environmental values ​​declaring the area as LIC and ZEPA, as it should be done in 2002.
The environmental organization warns, however, "the fact that the sierra is not declared a SCI or ZEPA, does not mean that it lacks environmental values", and in fact there are numerous protected species of flora and fauna, both in the mountains and in environment.
Without going any further, the area is declared as an Area of ​​potential reintroduction or expansion of the Perdicera Eagle, according to the Recovery Plan for the Perdicera Eagle in the Region of Murcia [1].
They are areas where historically there was Eagle Perdicera.
And precisely one of the main threats to the species, included in the aforementioned plan, is the collision and / or electrocution with power lines.
Therefore, in front of the installation of this high voltage line in the surroundings of this mountain range, Ecologists in Action warns that it can affect the protected flora and fauna, both in the construction phase and in the operational phase.
Among the protected flora that could be affected by the opening of roads and the installation works of the support towers of the LAT, there would be species such as the Cornical (Periploca laevigata subsp angustifolia), the yellow rock Thistle (Centaurea saxicola), the pink Rabogato (Sideritis glauca), the bitter Thyme (Teucrium libanitis), or the Palmito (Chamaerops humilis), among others.
Regarding the affection to fauna, several species of bats and raptors stand out, for which the LAT poses a risk of collision and / or electrocution, fatal.
Thus, it may affect the Bigeye Batwing (Myotis capaccinii), the Cave Bat (minopterus schreibersii), or the Great Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum).
As for birds of prey, the affected area has nearby nests of several species, and it is the usual flying spot and a hunting and feeding area for different birds, such as the Perdicera Eagle (Aquila fasciata-hieraaetus fasciatus), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). ), the Royal Owl (Bubo bubo), or the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus).
And the organization remembers that one of the main threats of raptors is precisely in the installation of LATs.
To conclude, Ecologists in Action warns that the presence of some areas of archaeological interest has not been taken into account, such as the Cabezo Malnombre Archaeological Site, or the Cabezo de la Mina Archaeological Site, which may be affected by the works.
For all these reasons, the organization has requested the paralysis of the works, and that an Environmental Evaluation be carried out that takes into account all these aspects, and that appropriate measures be taken to safeguard the natural and archaeological values ​​of the area, including the modification of the current layout.
[1] Approved by Decree No. 59/2016, of June 22, approving the recovery plans for the Bonelli's eagle, the otter and the fartet
Source: Ecologistas en Acción
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