Arsonists target river banks

SPANISH ecologists have warned against an arson campaign targeting the Velez river banks.

Members of GENA lodged a formal complaint with the Guardia Civil, the Velez-Malaga Town Council and the Provincial Department for Environmental Affairs for a “systematic arson campaign in the Velez river groves.”

GENA released a communiqué explaining that the Velez river is the municipality’s sole natural space and that its estuary is protected by law as it is part of Andalucia’s wetland network.

“Nevertheless, it is one of the most adversely affected areas in environmental terms,” said GENA President Rafael Yus. 

Yus explained that as many as five fires broke out last spring affecting the riverbanks, especially reed beds, poplars and eucalyptuses.

The flames have destroyed the flora and affected the vertebrates native to the area.

“Fires have been especially harmful to nesting birds, but also to mammals and reptiles”, commented Yus.

As stated by GENA, there is reason to believe the fires have been intentionally started by young arsonists late at night. However, they are not ruling out other possible explanations, because “local farmers usually destroy the Velez river groves to increase the size of their crop producing land base.”

Therefore, ecologists have requested that these fires be looked into and that the local government beef up police surveillance in the area to prevent future incidents.