Galician landscape will be protected with new guidelines

This represents a concerted effort by the regional government in the past decade

The Government of Galicia announced today that starting from 20 February a new document called Galicia Landscape Guidelines will come into force with a view towards more organized management, protection and conservation of this feature that makes the Spanish region unique.

The goal here is to align economic development with nature conservation in a way that preserves for future generations the landscapes that previous ones have had the chance to enjoy. The Guidelines will have to be applied and integrated into all new relevant projects taking place in the region.

Landscapes are also heritage and attraction that need to be preserved

Rampant development encroaches on the natural biomes and often irreversibly changes the look of a place, and not for the better. Galicia, located in the north-western corner of Spain, has a climate that is more akin to Ireland and as a consequence, its verdant greenery is one of the aspects that make this region unique in the mostly-Mediterranean country.

That is why new plans and strategies have to take into account the preservation of landscape as a guiding value and in that respect, the regional authorities believe they dispose of the most progressive policies in terms of landscape preservation in Spain.

Here are some examples of the kind of requirements which future developers will have to adhere to.

Energy-carrying infrastructure will have to be placed underground in the cases of new urban development. If high-voltage lines cross an Area of Special Landscape Interest (AEIP), their visual aspect from all possible angles will have to be considered to choose the least impactful one.

Likewise, the opening of quarries and mines in AEIPs will be prohibited unless rigorously justified. Eucalyptus plantations will be limited, and the planting of native hardwood forests will be encouraged instead for the timber industry.

The Guidelines also have provisions for communication infrastructure, such as wires and poles, as well as transport infrastructure, such as bridges. The latter, if longer than 50 metres, will require approval from the competent landscape authority.

The rules will also affect the tourism industry, as there will also need to be provided special visibility analyses for changes in the rural activities within 500 metres from the St. James’ Pilgrim Route.