SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 5 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife has sanctioned a mandate to the public entity Gesplan to execute forest rehabilitation tasks in the region of Teide National Park, which was impacted by the significant wildfire of 2023, affecting around 1,235 hectares of its ecosystems, predominantly in the Canarian pine forests and high-altitude scrubland.
This initiative, which has an estimated budget of approximately 510,500 euros, is set to be completed within nine months, as stated by the Island Corporation in a press release.
Consequently, Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, emphasised the significance of this undertaking in alleviating the damage to such a crucial natural habitat.
“Our aim is to restore Teide to its ecological equilibrium as swiftly as possible and halt the deterioration of the land affected by the fire. Therefore, we have earmarked 11 million euros for a comprehensive restoration scheme spanning the next three years, which will facilitate the rehabilitation of the forest areas within Teide National Park and the surrounding crown,” she remarked.
Furthermore, Dávila noted that “the rehabilitation of the pine forests and the replanting of indigenous species will not only aid in recovering what has been destroyed but will also bolster the entire ecosystem, as we are implementing a long-term strategy to prevent and, if necessary, contain any future fires.”
Regarding the tasks that Gesplan will undertake over the upcoming months, plans include the removal of charred Canarian pine trees, clearing affected scrubland, and constructing fascines from fire debris to avert soil erosion in the sloped areas.
Additionally, plant remnants will be managed to diminish the threat of future blazes. “These actions are vital to halt soil erosion and ensure the recovery of the ecosystem, as well as preventing the outbreak of new fires under adverse conditions,” the president added.
In turn, the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security, Blanca Pérez, elucidated that this initiative “not only concentrates on restoring what has been lost but also on enhancing our mountains’ resilience against future hazards.” “This is a project we initiated last year, which will persist in the medium term.”
In this context, Pérez reminded that “we recently approved the project for the rehabilitation of the summit scrub, which will also be executed by Gesplan, with funding exceeding one million euros, in addition to the recovery of the cedar trees within Teide National Park, involving an investment of 1.1 million euros.”
“We are discussing an area recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which we must safeguard and preserve in optimal conditions, and these efforts are directed towards restoring the ecosystems impacted by the fire,” she concluded.
