Underwater Gardens Tenerife, el polémico proyecto turístico acusado de incumplir todos los criterios ambientales europeos
The central conflict highlights how Underwater Gardens Tenerife is accused of being a textbook case of greenwashing. Environmental groups argue that the project uses a discursive facade of ecological restoration to mask a large-scale tourism infrastructure incompatible with international conservation standards. This strategy prioritizes artificial structures and commercial interests over genuine ecosystem repair, effectively disguising hotelier ambitions as environmental responsibility. This issue is critical because it challenges the integrity of Europe’s most protective environmental networks. The project is located within a Special Area of Conservation in the Natura 2000 network, yet lacks scientific evidence of net biodiversity benefits or real ecological restoration. Consequently, it represents a failure to adhere to mandatory criteria for Nature-Based Solutions, raising concerns that protected zones are being exploited under the guise of sustainability rather than preserving vulnerable marine habitats. The controversy exposes the growing tension between mass tourism models and genuine ecological limits in the Canary Islands. It underscores the urgent need for stricter institutional controls and independent protocols to detect corporate image washing before authorizing developments in sensitive areas. Ultimately, this case illustrates the broader imperative to shift toward authentic conservation efforts and scientifically rigorous restoration, rather than accepting fragmented projects that erode natural resources under the banner of a "blue economy."
Source: ecoticias.comPublished on 2026-05-26