He Tenerife Council foresees the reopening of the Altavista Refugelocated in the National Park of Teidefor him first half of next year. This was stated by the president of the insular corporation, Rosa Daviladuring a press conference held this Monday on the occasion of the ‘International Mountain Day’.
Dávila, who was accompanied by the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and EmergenciesBlanca Pérez, and the insular director of Medio Natural, Pedro Millán, indicated that work is being done to reopen the Altavista Shelter, which has been closed since November 2020.
“It’s a equipment of vital importance for safety and environmental protection of Teide and we want to put it into operation as soon as possible,” he indicated.
At this time, he commented, “the area of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and Emergencies is waiting to receive the economic viability study to undertake the improvements, it is about having a more sustainable Altavista Shelter, with zero environmental impact on the subsoil, that is powered by renewable energy and that offers better facilities for those who spend the night there.
The intention, he noted, “is that the work can be undertaken as soon as possible to proceed with the reopening in the first half of next year.”
Likewise, Rosa Dávila highlighted the close collaboration with the Tenerife Mountaineering Federation, the Mountaineering Group of Tenerife and the Canarian Mountaineering Federation for the development of initiatives that benefit citizens.
“The Cabildo develops a policy recreation in nature with actions for the population to carry out different activities in the natural environment in an orderly and safe manner, guaranteeing at the same time the conservation of the areas in which these activities are carried out,” he highlighted.
For her part, Blanca Pérez indicated that they are also working with the Tenerife Mountain Group to transfer the Casa Forestal de Garachico (La Montañeta) to serve as a center for activities linked to mountaineering and also as a refuge-hostel in an area with great wealth of paths and hiking tradition.
In addition, he highlighted the line of collaboration with the two federations – Tenerife and the Canary Islands -, who receive grants of 15,000 euros for different initiatives such as the development of the Tenerife ON application and the approval of trails, respectively.
More than 25,000 members in the mountains
The insular director of the Natural Environment, Pedro Millán, explained that it is planned to develop agreements “that allow the contribution of more than 25,000 federated in information about the current status and possible incidents in the island network of trailsas well as the progressive approval of the short-distance trails that are going to be incorporated into the largest network of public paths in the entire archipelago, always with the quality and safety criteria essential not only for local walkers but also for the thousands of tourists who increasingly come to this island attracted by walking in nature.
Likewise, Millán highlighted the important work carried out by the Environmental Participation and Volunteering Office of the Cabildo “which has been working for years with different groups and groups from across the island in the care and defense of the nature of the mountains, with numerous environmental awareness and sensitization actions”.
Thus, he noted that “waste cleaning on trails, fight against invasive species, information and training activities on natural and cultural values and recovery of paths and traditional activities are organized.”
The United Nations (UN) celebrates ‘International Mountain Day’ on December 11, whose theme in this year’s edition is dedicated to the restoration of mountain ecosystems.
The initiative promoted by the UN aims raise awareness among the population about the relevance of mountain ecosystems and demand solutionsbest practices and nature-based investments that build resilience, reduce vulnerability and increase the capacity of mountains to adapt to daily threats and extreme weather events.
