In reply to David Mora:
Hi everyone, I would like to add some important info about this topic, please do not make wrong as I would not like to create controversy with David Mora, he is friend and colleague, as I am also Climbing Instructor and Coach.
I have been involved in the restriction of Aixorta by the way, and I would add that climbing started at Aixorta before was stated as an area that needed protection, but I will not get in depth into this matter, as I would like to give you guys an extra information that David has missed.
David is totally right about how the Natura network works, in fact I did study Environmental Sciences, and a MsC in Environmental Management, so i know pretty well the intentions of the European Commission with the Natura Network 2000, which basically are to create and en chance a dialogue between stakeholders, local authorities and users of the areas.
Unfortunately, this is not how the Valencian Environmental Agency understands this initiative to protect and preserve the stated areas. If you research in the article 11 of the “Real Decreto 179/2004” (Apologies for not uploading an image of it, it is in Spanish anyway) a priori says that Rock climbing and Canyoning is an incompatible activity on the Environmental protected areas of the Natura Network 2000, however it also says that these activities could be allowed by the Authorities that have the responsibility to manage the areas.
Summing up, we climbers start in a minus 5 points situation in this matter, because a priori it is all banned unless... and this is where the problem relies, and the clear example is Aixorta.
In the Costa Blanca we do have a great issue, and it is really serious, CLIMBING is really IN DANGER in the Costa Blanca, and we do have to start changing the way we act as climbers and developers of new crags as David says, but we could be living an scenario where all the climbing areas within the Natura Network 2000 will be unnequiped and this is the 80% of the climbing of the Costa Blanca, and also all the trad climbing Puig Campaña, Ponoig, Ifach, etc.
My message is that the times coming will be tricky for the climbing community, and we need the support of other climbers and communities in order to raise our voice and tell Government and Environmental managers that we need to talk to reach agreements and make everyone happy environmentalist climbers.
Thanks everyone for reading this and understanding the situation we are heading at the moment.
Cheers
Sergio Pastor