Spanish ecological groups seek bird protections in Canary rally and demand broader climate action

Five environmental NGOs – Desert Watch, Ecologistas en Acción Lanzarote, SEO/BirdLife, GREFA and Papacría – have asked the Canary Islands government to adopt urgent measures to safeguard protected bird species and their habitats during the upcoming Rally Isla de Los Volcanes and the extension of the hunting season in Lanzarote. They warn that the event and the prolonged hunting period overlap with the breeding season of the Canary houbara bustard and the Saharan corridor bird, citing recent scientific studies and field observations. The groups request application of the precautionary principle so that the rally and hunting can proceed without harming the birds.

In a separate statement, a coalition of Spanish environmental organisations – Amigas de la Tierra, Ecologistas en Acción, Greenpeace, SEO/BirdLife and WWF – called for a comprehensive political and social agreement to confront the climate emergency. They highlighted unprecedented wildfires that have burned more than 170,000 hectares, affected over 100,000 people in Madrid, Ávila and Castellón, and warned that an imminent heatwave could exacerbate the risk. The organisations urged the government to translate the proposed State Climate Pact into concrete, verifiable targets, financing and coordination to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems.