Civil Guard and Medio Natural coordinate environmental surveillance across all islands

The Canarian Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment (ACPMN) and the 16th Zone of the Civil Guard of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands have signed an Operating Procedure to coordinate environmental surveillance, the management of natural resources, and territorial and urban planning discipline across the archipelago. The document was signed on October 14, 2026, and is now published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands no. 221, dated November 5, 2026, by resolution of the Executive Director of the regional body dated October 20.

The publication is located in section III, Other Resolutions, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Waters, and the resolution is supported by articles 8.4 and 19.8 of the Agency’s Statutes approved by Decree 189/2001, of October 15, and by article 29.2 of Law 12/2014, of December 26, on transparency and access to public information. The text entered into force at the moment of its signing.

The agreement is signed by the Brigadier General Chief of the 16th Zone, Juan Hernández Mosquera, appointed by Order INT/1115/2022, of November 11, and the Executive Director of the ACPMN, María Montserrat Ortega Montesdeoca. The procedure is non-binding and is configured, according to its ninth stipulation, as a declaration of intent under article 47.1 of Law 40/2015, of October 1, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector.

Shared surveillance across the eight islands

The objective is to prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activities affecting the environment and territorial and urban planning. The 16th Zone of the Civil Guard will act through its Nature Protection Unit (UPRONAZ), based in Tenerife, and commits to:

• Participate in a coordinated manner with the ACPMN and with the associated insular and municipal administrations in urban and environmental discipline.
• Promote joint environmental surveillance and policing actions with Agency personnel.
• Coordinate the devices organized by SEPRONA units in the archipelago.
• Encourage the exchange of information and share training actions.

For its part, the ACPMN will request the scheduling of ordinary services that require the presence of SEPRONA, will collaborate across all islands by providing training and resources within budgetary availability, and will train the personnel of the armed institute in the urban, territorial, and environmental guidelines, plans, and regulations approved in the Canary Islands.

Joint commission and circulation of files

A Joint Monitoring Commission is created with two representatives from each party, which shall meet at least once a year, with alternating annual presidency and a secretariat handled by the ACPMN alternating with the head of UPRONAZ. Its composition and agreements shall be communicated to the Government Delegation. Its functions include resolving interpretation doubts, evaluating results, and directing resources.

The procedure also establishes a channel for ordinary communication: the Agency shall notify UPRONAZ of the initiation and resolutions of procedures processed through Civil Guard reports, and SEPRONA units shall transfer useful information for management to the ACPMN. This exchange shall be subject to Organic Law 3/2018 on data protection and Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

Four extendable years at no cost

The term of validity is four years from the signing, extendable only once for another four, unless there is an express notice of termination in the last month of each calendar year. The agreement is terminated upon fulfillment of objectives, by mutual agreement, or by unilateral decision communicated in writing at least thirty days in advance. The ACPMN may voluntarily make material means or support available to SEPRONA, without this generating any legal or economic obligation; each party shall use its own personal and material resources.

The procedure develops the mandate of Article 12 of Organic Law 2/1986 on nature conservation and the authorization of the ninth additional provision of Canarian territorial legislation to sign agreements with State security forces. It is also based on Article 20.1 of Law 4/2017, of July 13, on Land and Protected Natural Areas of the Canary Islands, and the third additional provision of Decree 1/2026, of January 26.

The agreement arrives in a context of overlapping competencies between the regional Administration, the cabildos, and the city councils consortiumed in the Agency, with SEPRONA as the specialized unit of the Civil Guard on environmental matters. For readers, the practical consequence is a formal channel to request surveillance services, share sanctioning files, and train agents in Canarian urban planning regulations, with a commission that reports to the Government Delegation.

Source: Official Gazette of the Canary Islands, no. 221, of November 5, 2026, section III. Other Resolutions, pp. 39942-39949 (official reference: resolution 3813).