The Güímar City Council has commissioned the drafting of a Municipal Action Plan for the control of the species Pennisetum setaceum, popularly known as cat’s tail. This invasive species has been colonizing different island environments, giving rise to a conservation problem that requires specific and coordinated actions aimed at its control.
The Councilor for Rural Development, Nayra Caraballero, points out that the purpose of this initiative “is to carry out a set of previous research, consultation, inventory and analysis work to establish action strategies». The Güimarera councilor explains that “participatory methodologies will be proposed that allow establishing common criteria for action agreed upon with different sectors.” citizens».
The first part of the development of the work will consist of the preparation of a participatory diagnosis, through field visits and consultation with different groups and specialists in the control of invasive species, to obtain valuable information about their current situation, the more appropriate control measures or the establishment of priority areas when carrying out control campaigns on the species, according to the local government.
Once all the data has been obtained and the technical and citizen proposals have been made for the establishment of actions aimed at establishing control measures over the species, “the document called Action Plan for the control of Pennisetum setaceum in the municipality of Güímar».
Nayra Caraballero, who highlights the importance of this initiative for the conservation of biodiversity in the municipality, also refers to the impact that this species has on the rural environments of the municipality. In this regard, the Councilor for Rural Development emphasizes that «“many agricultural roads, orchards abandoned buildings and other spaces are heavily colonized by the cat’s tail. From the perspective of the second deputy mayor, “it is relevant to act on them because these environments function as important points of dispersion of the species.”
