The Council of Tenerife works with a special machine to recycle earth, stones or other materials and be able to reuse them later to improve the island’s forest roads. It is an example of circular economy and a commitment to sustainability. This resource is one of the great commitments of the Natural Environment Management area for 2023. This year, the Cabildo increases the investment for the care and repopulation of the mountains by 62%, reaching 7.2 million euros.
The aforementioned tool is called stone crusher, uses the track’s own bearing material. It crushes stones up to 30 centimeters in diameter and reuses them to generate a new pavement. This is equivalent to a sustainable and very non-aggressive system, as well as being fast to keep the track network in the best conditions. Stone crusher is also the name of the company in charge of the works that divides its offer into four large blocks offered to the island institution. In the first place, the grinding itself; subsequently, the rehabilitation of the roads with this material, the development of different agricultural works and, finally, a machinery maintenance service.
The Cabildo allocates 7.2 million euros to the care and repopulation of the island’s mountains
The insular president, Pedro Martín, indicates in this regard that “the maintenance of trails and tracks, forestry work, reforestation and the construction of infrastructures that help firefighting teams fires These are some key issues in the fight against fire in the mountains and our protected natural spaces.
Martín informs that this year more than seven million euros will be dedicated to forest planning, a figure that increases by 62% that allocated in 2022. This contribution will contribute to the good condition of the island’s forest masses to fight against fire in the forests.
work against fires
The president of the Cabildo assures that “the real work against fire takes place in winter when the forest masses are prepared for the arrival of heat and the accesses for possible cases of emergency.” The president also stressed that “in these four years of his mandate, action has been taken in more than 10,500 hectares of pine forests, on which hard work has been necessary, thinning and reforesting with Canary Island pine, because they were artificially created forest masses that had very little resistance to fire.
Regarding the fires, specifically the one that occurred last July in the north of Tenerife, Martín stresses that the island corporation “has already launched a battery of actions in which a dozen local companies participate and in which 112 work people to carry out a first intervention on forty hectares of the more than 2,700 affected by the fire”.
In 2020, a Sustainable Forest Management Plan was approved that will be developed in the next 15 years and will act on masses of radiata pine that will be replaced by native species such as Canary Island pine. In addition, intensive work has also been carried out on the laurel, Monteverde, fayal heath, etc. habitats until more than 24,000 specimens of Canary Island pine, Canary Island cedar and other native species have been planted.
Renewal of signage
For her part, the Minister of Natural Environment Management, Isabel García, points out that this year special attention will also be paid “to the renewal of trail signage, as well as to the maintenance and improvement of forest tracks.” García recalls that for the first time in the history of the Cabildo, trail improvement crews have been set up and that “the result of their work is being excellent with an evident improvement in different sections throughout the Island.”
1,200 kilometers of trails
The Tenerife Trail Network has approximately 1,200 kilometres. The aforementioned teams are put into operation to improve those points in which the safety of people was compromised. The counselor highlights that “these works complement the usual ones in the different natural spaces; however, it is important that the population respect and be aware that maintenance must begin with good use”.
Pedro Martín stresses that “the real work against fire begins now, in winter”
“With these works we help municipalities to offer a safer and more desirable forest and rural environment for the enjoyment of citizens and that transit on these roads complies with adequate security,” says the counselor, who adds that “during this mandate, for the first time, this service has been launched outside the Anaga and Teno Rural Parks and the park itself. Teide»
Management of the Natural Environment and Security has 62 million euros this year to, among other actions, promote the fight against fires and the restoration of natural spaces (7.2 million).
