Canary Islands government, council, municipalities and Civil Guard combat rural land fraud

Territorial Policy and the Fuerteventura Cabildo Launch a Plan Against Unauthorized Installations on Rural Land

The Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and the six major municipalities held a working meeting today to strengthen control and surveillance over the proliferation of unauthorized installations on rural land that threaten natural values, planning and biodiversity.

The gathering is part of the action plan launched by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura together with the Ministry of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water of the Canary Islands government, the Canary Islands Agency for Natural Environment Protection and the municipalities.

Representatives of the local police, the Civil Guard and the Cabildo’s Environmental Agency attended the meeting, intensifying monitoring across the island against the spread of structures such as:

• Caravans
• Shipping containers
• Prefabricated houses
• Other constructions that violate urban‑planning and environmental regulations

“Joint coordination between local police, environmental agents, SEPRONA and other institutions is key to stopping the invasion we are suffering on our rural land, which has no legal basis and alters the natural singularities of our island and the traditional uses of these soils,” said Cabildo President Lola García.
“It is important that the population becomes aware of this reality, which entails serious infractions.”

Territorial Policy, Cohesion and Water Minister Manuel Miranda emphasized the need to continue educational efforts so citizens understand the importance of preserving the territory. He warned that, beyond administrative fines, many violations constitute criminal offenses under the penal code.

Also present were the director of the Canary Islands Agency for Natural Environment Protection, Montserrat Ortega, the chief colonel of the Las Palmas Command, mayors and other municipal representatives.

In parallel, the Cabildo has launched an information campaign about the prohibitions and infractions related to rural land, as defined by the Canary Islands Land Law and the Protected Natural Spaces Law, which can carry penalties of up to €150,000. Unauthorized constructions on rural land are also punishable under the Organic Penal Code.

The first phase seeks voluntary removal of the containers by the offenders; if this fails, the violations are reported to the authorities.