A significant advancement was revealed by the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, who announced a forthcoming meeting scheduled for next Tuesday. The participants will include the Island Corporation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands, and the General Secretariat of Fisheries of the State. The purpose of this meeting is to “revitalise both the declaration of the Anaga marine reserve as well as that of Teno”, a process initiated 20 years ago.
“We are taking proactive measures to push forward with these proceedings, where we all share consensus. The Cabildo is willing to offer financial assistance if necessary, even though it falls outside our jurisdiction. We are keen on seeing these processes through to manage these marine natural spaces effectively,” stated Dávila during a press conference following the Government Council meeting, accompanied by Cabildo’s vice president, Lope Afonso.
In addition, the island president mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the Primary Sector counselor to explore the option of expanding the conservation scope of the reserves. By broadening the preservation areas, management would become more straightforward. Dávila believes that the ministry would be open to this idea if it aligns with a consensus across sectors and receives support from the Government and the Council.
With regards to the Government Council developments, Rosa Dávila also disclosed the approval of a collaborative agreement between the Cabildo and Buenavista City Council. This agreement is for the refurbishment of the Teno Lighthouse and its subsequent transformation into an Interpretation Center. The centre will feature facilities that highlight the cultural and social significance of the Teno Rural Park. This project, financed by Next Generation funds, has a budget of €1,646,651, addressing a longstanding request for the enhancement of the currently shuttered enclave.
The renovation of the Teno Lighthouse encompasses various enhancements such as water and electricity provision to the building. It also involves adapting the interior layout to incorporate a cafe or restaurant, as well as underground bathrooms located adjacent to a storage area.
Optical fibre
The Council has also sanctioned the tender for the installation of fibre optics at the visitor centres of the Teide National Park. This initiative aims to support technological projects that enhance usage, safety, environmental protection, and acoustic sensing to detect any seismic anomalies. The works, amounting to €5 million, will be carried out on the island’s roads and are guaranteed to have access to the necessary land. The project has an implementation period of 10 months post-award.
Furthermore, the Council has approved the tender for the Los Rodeos clean point with a budget of €725,370. A credit modification has also been endorsed within the Primary Sector to allocate €2.7 million towards the Decarbonization Plan, as highlighted by Lope Afonso.
Additional approvals include subsidies for the programming of art galleries in Tenerife, with a total of €150,000, and for the Network of Municipal Stage Spaces, receiving €500,000 in support, among other assistance programmes in different areas.
Moreover, the Cabildo president commended “the resilience of Tenerife’s economy”, noting the decline in unemployment figures. The impressive statistic indicates that out of the 10,500 unemployed individuals in the Canary Islands reduced in May from the previous year, 5,000 of them were from Tenerife.