The event has raised specific objectives that contemplate the three axes of sustainability: sociocultural, environmental and economic. Precisely, socioeconomic dynamization at the local level has prevailed. A participatory vision of the tourist management of the destination with the involvement of the resident population as well. Thus, the commitment to km 0 products has prevailed in order to “generate a local economy and reduce the carbon footprint.”
Another premise of Biofest; Nature and rurality without limits, its full name, has been the promotion of the use of public transport and new access points to the Reserve with the offer of alternative routes to the traditional ones.
More than 350 people have participated in one of the thirty activities offered. With a majority of women, 70%. Ten routes have materialized along the trails of the Biosphere. But, above all, it has been possible to enjoy a multidisciplinary offer with actions in nature that have valued the primary sector of the area, archeology and the new concept of rurality.
Two performances have stood out among the rest. On the one hand, the recovery of local birds. In this sense, a workshop has been set up, shared between parents and children, for the elaboration of nest boxes focused on the Canary tit and other species of forest and agricultural environments of the Reserve. The boxes have been installed at various points in Tegueste.
On the other hand, we must mention the so-called Huge volunteering with a special role for 25 interns at the Las Canteras migrant center. They have assisted in some of the organized cleanups. The one on the path that connects Tegueste with La Tejinellita; that of waste in Las Peñuelas, Mesa Mota and Fuente del Cuervo or that of La Orilla, which has included environmental education with the collaboration of the Montañeros Nivaria club.
The migrants have also participated in a demonstration of Canarian struggle in the Mencey Tegueste territory. There was the Malian Mamadou Camara, prop A of the local club, who struggled with some of them. They shared confidences and asked him questions about his arrival in the Islands by boat.
Activities related to the primary sector were not lacking. Among them the cheese, wine and honey tastings, or pairings. As well as the references to local crafts in the case of the photography workshop inspired by the vegetation and insects of the Reserve.
The dissemination of the values of sustainability, development and respect for the environment have been the pillars to be developed since the organization of the Festival. To this has been added the use of biodegradable and compostable materials compared to single-use plastic.
The Biofest Festival, organized by the company Ecotouristing, was born within a framework of public-private governance, materialized with the involvement of the Villa de Tegueste City Council, the Cabildo Natural Environment Area, the Anaga Biosphere Reserve and Tourism from Tenerife.
