Outrage at plans to end protection of Canary Island species

The government of the Canary Islands has been accused of putting at risk hundreds of species of plants and animals after it moved to downgrade their protected status to allow new homes and golf courses to be built.

By Fiona Govan in Madrid
Published: 4:43PM GMT 08 Dec 2009

The Rock Sparrow Photo: ALAMY

The Acrostira euphorbiae grasshopper

A houbara bustard Photo: AP

Ecologists branded the plan by the regional government of the Spanish Atlantic islands a "crime" and called on the central government in Madrid to intervene.

The unique biodiversity of the Canary Islands has long been recognised as a haven for wildlife and is home to about 4,000 species and sub-species that do not exist anywhere else in the world.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/6762090/Outrage-at-plans-to-end-protection-of-Canary-Island-species.html