The Cabildo and the Foresta Foundation commenced work yesterday on the Tenerife Renace initiative, which encompasses environmental restoration efforts in areas impacted by the significant forest fire that affected the island in August 2023. The Minister for the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the Director of the Natural Environment, Pedro Millán, and the Director of the Foresta Foundation, Alicia Rodríguez, visited the La Bermeja viewpoint (La Orotava), where the work has started. A crew of five workers, employed by the Foresta Foundation and overseen by the Cabildo, has initiated the tasks of clearing plant debris and chipping, essential activities required to recuperate the affected region.
Blanca Pérez articulated that “this project exemplifies the dedication of the people of Tenerife and the Canary Islands to our environment, especially our mountains. We owe our gratitude to all individuals and organisations for their involvement in Tenerife Renace.” She continued, “At the Cabildo, we have devised various plans and actions, and thanks to this project, we can restore areas such as the La Bermeja viewpoint. While we have much work ahead of us, today is a moment of joy and satisfaction.”
Pedro Millán further remarked that “Tenerife Renace establishes a network of initiatives aimed at restoring forests, promoting citizen participation, and generating expertise regarding the fire and learning about restoration techniques for ecosystems affected by such disasters. The recovery efforts are monitored and directed by the technical personnel of the Cabildo, who have delineated the work areas and units to be executed.”
Alicia Rodríguez, in turn, expressed her appreciation “to all the private organisations and members of the public who have facilitated the realisation of the Tenerife Renace project today.” She noted, “This is a four-year initiative, and there remains much to accomplish.”
The Tenerife Renace project was launched in October 2023, aimed at addressing the catastrophic fires that struck the island last year. To date, the project has garnered a total of 269,011.80 euros through contributions from 26 businesses and anonymous benefactors. Tenerife Renace has been championed by Innovaris with the backing of CEOE-Tenerife, in collaboration with Inco-LAB Smart Island Cluster, as well as the entities Televisión Pública de Canarias, SA, Radio Pública de Canarias, SA, and the Canary Islands Confederation of Entrepreneurs.
The Las Calderetas recreational area and several trails and paths reopen
The Cabildo announced yesterday that it has reopened the recreational and camping areas of Las Calderetas (El Sauzal), along with several trails and paths affected by the major fire of 2023, following the completion of recovery work. It also reminded the public that the recreational areas of Hoya del Abade (La Victoria) and La Laguneta Chica (Santa Úrsula) as well as the camping area of La Caldera (La Orotava) are still closed. In any case, the Cabildo advises residents to exercise extreme caution when travelling through the mountains.
Additionally, some trails that are now open include the PR-TF25 Las Raíces-Lomo de La Jara and the Aguamansa-La Crucita (part of the Camino de Candelaria), among others; also, the Cueva Labrada path (from the Fuente Fría path to the intersection with the Las Crucitas path), the Las Crucitas path, and the section of the Las Barranqueras path (from the junction with the Cruz de Funes path and the El Rayo path).
