Authorities - Devesa Albufera - València
Authorities
Authorities
The legal jurisdiction affecting the conservation of l’Albufera de Valencia has been distributed among various authorities. At times, it can be difficult to know which one of them is in charge of each of the numerous aspects involved in the conservation of such an area. The main two authorities present in the Natural Park are the Technical Management Office of l’Albufera Natural Park (under the realm of the Regional Government of Valencia) and the Devesa-Albufera Service (under Valencia City Council):
Technical Management Office of L'Albufera Natural Park (Department of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development)
This Management Office is a point of reference, with jurisdiction in the entire protected area. It seeks to ensure the conservation of natural eco-systems and their ecological, educational and scientific assets as well as beauty spots, encouraging people to learn about and enjoy themselves in the Park based on its heritage and cultural value, and to engage in traditional occupations. Telephone: 961 620 101 Fax: 961 620 103 Address: C/ Pintor Marti Girbes, 23 - 46012 (El Palmar), Valencia. parque_albufera@gva.es http://www.parquesnaturales.gva.es/web/pn-l-albufera/conocenos
Devesa-Albufera Service (Valencia City Council)
The most ecologically valuable areas in l’Albufera Natural Park (namely, the lake, the Devesa forest and a large portion of the dune eco-system) are located within the municipal territory of Valencia. Moreover, Valencia City Council owns the lake and its shores as well as the Devesa forest. This, in addition to the fact that the municipal territory of Valencia is the largest by population out of the 13 territories within the protected area, means that this Council has a significant part to play in managing this area. The Council has been conferred many powers concerning the conservation of l’Albufera de Valencia. Valencia City Council has promoted many environmental initiatives and projects implemented in l’Albufera. An example of this is the ENVIRONMENTAL SEDUCTION Project, through which an awareness campaign on l’Albufera has been launched (which includes this website), or the LIFE DUNE and LIFE ENEBRO projects, though which dune areas have been regenerated.
Manager: Antonio Vizcaino Matarredona
Telephone: 961 610 347 Fax: 961 610 037 Address: Viveros Municipales - Carretera CV500 Km. 8,5 – 46012 (El Saler) Valencia albufera@valencia.es http://albufera.valencia.es
At EU level
L’Albufera Natural Park is part of the Natura 2000 network of European protected areas. Its legal framework was established by the European Commission, which is also in charge of monitoring it. The European Commission has also launched the LIFE+ Programme, which is a financial tool that provides resources to support and boost various areas under the Natura 2000 network. L’Albufera de Valencia is one of the top areas in terms of number of LIFE projects awarded.
At country level
MARM, the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, is the agency in charge of proposing and developing government policy in the field of protecting the natural heritage, biodiversity and the sea, as well as promoting rural development, agricultural, stockbreeding and fishing resources, etc. About any matters concerning l’Albufera, the following have special representatives:
Directorate General for Sustainability in Coastal and Maritime Zones
Any area contained within the Maritime Terrestrial Public Domain falls under the jurisdiction of this entity.
Contact details: Demarcación de Costas de Valencia
C/ D. Joaquín Ballester, 39 - 6ª planta - 46004 Valencia Tel. 963 079 578
The Hydrographic Confederation of Júcar
This entity is concerned with the condition in which the continental waters, riverbeds and ravines of the Júcar River basin are kept.
Contact details: Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar
Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, nº 48, 46071 Valencia. Tel. 963.938.804 / Fax 963.938.801 / oficial@chj.mma.es / www.chj.es
At regional level
This is the authority in charge of managing the territory of the Region of Valencia, from an environmental, landscape, planning and ordnance perspective. It is particularly important in the management of l’Albufera through the following agencies:Spanish Environment Agency
It is in charge of drafting, promoting and implementing any appropriate measures for biodiversity conservation, and forest and forestry resource management. The Technical Management Office of l’Albufera Natural Park falls under the above.- Natural Areas Section. Management, maintenance and promotion of protected natural areas, and management of biodiversity and its habitats.
- Forestry Resource Management and Environmental Conservation Section. Planning and management of forestry resources, forest fire prevention, forest maintenance and environmental conservation, biodiversity management, management and regulation of hunting and fishing in the continental area.
- Environmental Assessment Section. Development, coordination and management of environmental impact statements and strategic environmental assessment of plans and programmes that may have an environmental, economic or social effect, under the applicable legislation.
Water Resource Agency
It deals with planning, management and conservation of water resources in the Autonomous Region of Valencia.Territory and Landscape Agency
It engages in ordnance and landscape management, land and coastal distribution, and natural area planning and management, by acting as a coordinator of various public authorities with jurisdiction in such matters.Other Agencies
The Agriculture, Fishing, Foodstuff and Water Agency: It has jurisdiction in development and promotion of the primary sector, seeking to ensure the sector can be competitive, boosting marketing and commercialisation, as well as boosting R&D&I, improving quality, food safety and environmental sustainability.At local level
Valencia City Council
Valencia City Council, which covers a larger surface area than the rest of the councils composing the protected area, has a major role in maintenance and management duties of the area, carried out mainly through the Devesa-Albufera Service.Ajuntament de Valencia (Servicio Devesa-Albufera)
Phone number: 961 61 00 21 Fax: 961 61 00 37 The Council’s Citizen Advice Helpline: 010 Address: Viveros Municipales - Carretera CV500 Km. 8,5 – 46012 (El Saler) Valencia info@albuferadevalencia.com www.albuferadevalencia.com www.valencia.es- FOREST RANGERS: At the Forest Ranger Station in El Saler, the Council has a forest rangers squad in charge of surveillance of the Devesa forest and the Lake.
- COUNTRYSIDE RANGERS: The Municipal Consell Agrari, under Valencia City Council, has a countryside rangers’ service for both Horta Nord and the rice fields in l’Albufera.