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- The delegation of the College of Geologists in the Valencian Community and the General Directorate of the Natural and Animal Environment agree to maintain a fluid relationship and recognize the importance of geologists as actors of the abiotic natural heritage

Madrid, November 15, 2023 - The delegation of the Illustrious Official College of Geologists (ICOG) in the Valencian Community has held a meeting with the general director of the Natural and Animal Environment, Raúl Mérida, to advance the protection of the geological heritage of the community.

The ICOG delegate, Joaquín Martínez-Campillo, recalled that Law 11/1994 on Protected Natural Spaces of the Valencian Community, which is still in force, "never mentions the words geology, geological or geodiversity", which is why he qualifies it as "obsolete standard" with regard to geological natural heritage. In the meeting with the general director of the Natural and Animal Environment, Martínez-Campillo regretted the lack of administrative attention by previous regional governments to the protection of geodiversity, and has demanded from the new executive a "own geological strategy" that allows the declaration of a set of natural monuments "coherent and representative" of the Valencian geological heritage.

The meeting with the agency dependent on the Department of Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory has taken place, in the words of the ICOG delegate, in a positive atmosphere. Both institutions have agreed to maintain a fluid relationship and recognize the importance of geologists as protective agents of the abiotic natural heritage of the Valencian Community.

Illustrious Official College of Geologists (ICOG) The ICOG is a Public Law Corporation created for the defense and support of the interests of Geologists according to Law 73/1978 of December 26. Among its essential purposes, the organization of the activity or exercise of the profession of Geologist and the exclusive representation and defense of its interests stand out. Based in Madrid, the College has branches in Aragon, Galicia, Asturias, Catalonia and the Basque Country. For more information, you can visit www.icog.es.

For more information: Europa Press Comunicación Manuel Recio, manuelrecio@europapress.es 600 90 55 93 Rubén Marcos, rubenmarcos@europapress.es 600 90 54 74.

ISSUER: COLLEGE OF GEOLOGISTS