Recently, the Cabildo unveiled the Tenerife Median Scheme designed to prevent fires and enhance natural and agricultural biodiversity, with the aim of boosting safety for residents living in the most at-risk areas of the Island. This initiative boasts a budget of 2.9 million Euros and a three-year implementation timeframe. Its primary goal is to guide property owners residing in the central region of the Island to implement self-protection measures in their residences and farms against forest fires – primarily by reducing plant fuel load – and enhancing natural and agricultural biodiversity by establishing biodiversity refuges on their properties.
The plan was introduced at the Red Cross camp of La Montañeta (in the hills of Garachico) and was attended by Cabildo’s president, Rosa Dávila; the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the insular director of the Natural Environment, Pedro Millán; the insular director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín; the mayor of Garachico, José Heriberto González; the mayor of Buenavista, Eva García; the president of the Group of Medianías Collectives, Félix Álvarez, along with technicians from the Cabildo and Gesplan.
Rosa Dávila emphasised that this is “a groundbreaking initiative.” “We are addressing 25% of Tenerife’s population residing in these mountainous regions, and thanks to the Cabildo, they will learn how to safeguard their homes and properties,” she added.
Blanca Pérez highlighted the importance of engaging neighbours in the development of the scheme “as they are its key players.” “From the Cabildo, we will equip them with all the necessary resources to protect our mountains and homes. We will collaborate closely, involving residents in practices and tasks crucial for enhancing their security and that of their homes,” she stated.
Strategies
The Tenerife Median Scheme, devised by the public corporation Gesplan, comprises a range of specific actions aimed at enlisting local authorities and residents from the most vulnerable areas.
Among the measures that property owners must implement to safeguard their residences, the upkeep of a 15-metre safety zone surrounding them is crucial, where plant coverage should be minimised, particularly with highly flammable vegetation like pines, heather, or brambles. Regarding trees, it is advised to maintain their canopy elevated from the ground and spaced at least 3 metres apart.
Other essential self-protection measures include installing suitable shutters, keeping roofs and terraces free from debris, and preventing the accumulation of flammable items, such as awnings or garden furniture, around the exterior of the houses.
The implementation of this scheme is centred on citizen participation, as residents themselves must actively engage in the programme. Thus, it is proposed that citizens address sprawling vegetation covering vast areas in abandoned farmlands or neighbouring private estates overlapping with high-risk mountain areas for fire. This is to be done in conjunction with the Cabildo offering support through three work crews and technical personnel for these operations.
Another objective of the scheme is the ecological restoration of natural biodiversity and preservation of the agricultural landscape, as the potential native vegetation located in the median, including moist montane forest and thermophilic forest, aids in preventing fires preventatively.
In the upcoming months, informational campaigns and initiatives promoting shared responsibility in fire prevention will be conducted on the Island. Additionally, training sessions, streamlining of processes, on-site guidance, technical assistance, and land conservation agreements will be facilitated.
