Benidorm hosts the Governing Board of Serra Gelada, which gives the green light to joint maritime surveillance of the Natural Park

Benidorm today hosted the meeting of the Governing Board of the Serra Gelada Natural Park. A session in which the collaboration agreement between the Generalitat Valenciana and the City Councils of Benidorm, l'Alfàs del Pi and Altea for the joint maritime surveillance of the Natural Park of the Natural Park has been given the green light.

The Councilor for the Environment, José Ramón González de Zárate, recalled that last February the City Council approved in full adherence to this agreement by which Benidorm will provide the services of its rural guard and fishing and 5,000 euros to defray part of the fuel of the vessel that will be responsible for this surveillance. This boat will be provided by the City Council of Altea, and in case of need Benidorm could reinforce this work with the Zodiac of the Beach Section of the Local Police.

De Zárate, who has participated in this meeting held in the Plenary Hall and chaired by the head of the Governing Board, Joan Piera, explained that with this joint surveillance is to "control actions related to flora and fauna, spills, or analytical samplings ". Also present were, among others, the Councilors for the Environment of the Municipalities of l'Alfàs del Pi and Altea, Rocío Guijarro and Beatriz Nomdedeu.

The mayor recalled that this agreement is focused "to contribute our grain of sand to protect our natural space, coastline and seabed; and he added that with this joint surveillance service "it is intended to control the actions related to flora and fauna, control discharges, or extract water analytical samples."

In addition to this agreement, the Board has addressed other issues such as: the management report for the year 2017; the botanical report on wild orchids, their control and protection; the analysis on the causes and population of the 'Oculina patagónica' in the Mediterranean; the implementation of an inclusive language in the Operating Regulations of the Governing Board; and the proposals of action for 2018. Some proposals among which the elaboration of the Master Plan of Uses and Management of the Serra Gelada Natural Park is included.