José Alberto Delgado (Fasnia, 1960) comes from a family of goatherds. “And to great honor,” he clarifies. An aunt was the last to develop that work in the southern town, where she was born and raised. Knowing the rural world has been worth a lot for his work as head of the Biodiversity Unit of the Cabildo de Tenerife.
What were the main conclusions of the V Island Biodiversity Congress?
Those of us who work in biodiversity meet to present experiences at the conferences. Some 300 people attended the Fairgrounds to show what was done by technicians and companies in the field of scientific research and others. A meeting point. As a summary, the island’s biodiversity is highly threatened by two very important agents of change. In the first place, the insular overpopulation, between 8 and 15 times above what is sustainable in Tenerife. If today we closed ports and airports there would be no way to have resources to feed it because 90% of products come from abroad. The territory is degraded into protected spaces that seem to have become the García Sanabria park. The rest we have insulted with urban use. The cultivated agricultural area, which would give us sustenance and food sovereignty, barely reaches 18,000 hectares. And it is used to build when rural land should be sacralized, truly protected, because it is very scarce. We must reach an agreement for conservation on the Island with the idea of what we want to conserve. The thermophilic forest has been reduced to 6% and palm groves in their natural, wild state, barely a thousand specimens remain and 500 are on private land.
What solutions does the strategy for biodiversity in Tenerife propose?
create more runners green and ecological spaces between cities, as well as uniting the network of natural spaces, because some have been separated for more than 500 years by the infrastructures we have built. We must recover them so that the genetic exchange is maintained. For example, Anaga and the Forest Crown have been without connection for those five centuries. We advocate for an ecological corridor and an infrastructure that crosses the highway and allows for that genetic exchange. Apart from the large road constructions, also those green ones that pass through the cities. This is an idea of the European Union than in 2013. On the islands it is even worse because now we have a density of 567 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is comparable to the city of Madrid.
What is the other change agent you mentioned?
Invasive alien species, both flora and fauna, which imply a change in ecosystems. We have 18,000 species in Tenerife and the really invasive are about 70, although the Cabildo focuses the work on 20 that are causing damage. The cat’s tail gives an idea of what a biological invasion is capable of modifying an environment and taking over the ecosystem. A lot of money is spent each year to create containment barriers, a kind of cordon sanitaire, so that they do not enter natural spaces. They already do it on the slopes and we have to hire climbers so they don’t settle there. For example, there are urbanizations that discharge gray water without sanitation to the cliffs and that causes a proliferation of cane that displaces native species.
Does this force them to take refuge in places that are difficult to access?
Yes, and also the human factor that has cornered them in the cliffs. An obvious example is the giant lizard of Tenerife that is about to disappear and only remains in this type of area. There are only about 1,200 left in two places, Guaza and Teno, when they once covered the entire island. Between man and predators such as cats, they have been destroying them. For example, recently a cat, apparently from a nearby urbanization, got into a fenced area and killed the entire population of lizards, about twelve. Cats are pretty, I like them, but in their place, not feral.
Is there a real danger of extinction of native species?
Of the giant lizard of Tenerife, without a doubt, from what I explained. Also some of the flora that, unfortunately, we will never recover because their pollinator has disappeared. Those of the National Park Teide They are well preserved, but there are endemic legumes, which rabbits like very much, and hence risk. We have 17 threatened species of flora and about five of fauna. When the strategy was developed, a diagnosis was made. Almost 42% of our habitat is in a poor state of conservation; in endemic species, the situation improves a little, with only 27%.
How do you assess the scourge of fires forestry on the island?
It is an environmental problem and even logical due to the large number of people who circulate through our mountains. That of Tenerife is a well-preserved system. It is public and restorations are possible. Towards the coast it is something else. 40% of the degradation of our systems occurs in private areas, those of interface, where it is more difficult to conserve. You have to live with the fires, make more active policies. For generations, harvesting was done and the needles were removed from the mount. Now it is no longer profitable and originates fuel. At the age of 15, he burns for any reason. It is the paradox of fires: the more and better we conserve, the more problems we have with increased fuel and fires. The solution is not easy. Clearing the entire mountain doesn’t seem reasonable either because you have to integrate your own materials and generate soil. There are countries where prevention is done on the edges of the road to avoid mistakes. Prevention policies in winter are more important than seaplanes in summer. I would change the extinction apparatus for prevention and restoration policies.
Rate the work of the Recovery Center of La Tahonilla.
We have a motto: we want to close La Tahonilla one day. It has an educational function but it comes to cover the problems of the hand of man. Animals crash into large buildings, where they should not be, or die from poisons that people place. The flora of the nurseries exists to be able to restore what we have degraded. Fix the disasters that we have caused in nature. In 2021, 3,000 injured animals entered. Many because people continue to use absolutely prohibited poisons such as carbofurans. Rodenticides can be used inside houses but not outside. There are those who consider everything that bothers them a plague, including, for example, an absolutely harmless worm and ask the Cabildo for a campaign to eradicate it. Or does something worse. The use of poisons is not good for animals or for people.
What is your opinion of the numerous “entries” in the protected natural spaces, 48% of the Island?
Biodiversity should be a sanctuary for everyone. They begin to challenge themselves on slopes where they have never been walked and there are several new species every year. They go through nature to say I’ve been here and no one else has. As a biologist I don’t go out there if I run the risk of spoiling it. I go on the trails and I don’t know how people can get out. When they do, they look for some personal challenge, they do not contribute anything to nature. When I was a child I played in the street and there were no traffic lights until the population increased and they were necessary. The same happens on Teide. We have reached such a level of saturation that we need to regulate access. The Cabildo thinks about making the visit more pleasant, not about speculation. It is done in all the natural spaces of the world. I have been seeing the National Park Plan for many years and people are always opposed, even if they are going to enjoy it. An example is the change in Teno where an unpleasant visit has been done well and everyone is happy. And in Anaga it must also be regulated and only buses and neighbors enter. Why do you have to do the races in natural spaces and not in degraded areas? They come, they cause damage and they don’t pay. Anywhere in the world you have to pay fees. Natural spaces are to be conserved.
Is environmental awareness a pending issue? Is the education of children key?
The human being believes himself to be the center, everything must revolve around him and even prevail over biodiversity. A reductionism because without it there is no health. We cause an ecocide. We need a pact for the territory in Tenerife in view of the danger of turning it into an island-city. Although there is hope with a bit of social awareness, not only for children but for the entire population, adults as well. There are attacks on the environment, it’s true, but I think there are more who have a conscience. There is a lot of ignorance and that is why the whole society must be made aware. The Island needs that awareness that wakes up from time to time. I don’t like to criminalize anyone. Many of us come from the rural world and today’s young people have a certain detachment for something they have not experienced. But neither did my generation and the previous ones have the capacity for change that the current media provide.
