SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE December 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife has intensified efforts to manage and eradicate invasive exotic species within the Anaga Rural Park over the last year, resulting in the removal of just over 12 tons of plant debris.
The Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, states in a statement that the Cabildo is working “seriously” to control invasive flora not just in Anaga Rural Park but across the other protected areas of the island.
“These initiatives are crucial for the preservation of our biodiversity. A few weeks ago, we engaged with local groups and organisations from Anaga to communicate the efforts we are undertaking,” he highlights.
Blanca Pérez also emphasises that “the eradication of these species is a gradual and laborious task; however, it simultaneously facilitates the slow recovery of habitats with significant environmental importance that have been compromised by plants introduced for ornamental purposes.”
She believes that “it is the responsibility of all to curb the spread of these species, which pose serious threats to endemic or native ecosystems.”
Throughout this year, the work conducted by the public entity Gesplan has allowed action to be taken over 505 hectares, with 64.5% involved in the removal of the invasive red geranium (Pelargnium inquinans) and 9.7% focusing on guinea pig vine (Ipomoea indica).
Additional works have targeted plants such as aloe, crassula, senecio, and pinillo.
These initiatives are also outlined in a mandate to Gesplan, which has an allocation of 1.1 million euros for managing invasive exotic species within the protected areas of Teno, Anaga, and both the North and South regions of the island.
The Cabildo, via the public enterprise Gesplan, has undertaken over a thousand interventions in the past five years across various areas of the park, particularly in the villages of Afur, Taganana, Bejía and in specific locations such as Tierras Altas, Margalua, and Benijo— the three key areas surrounding Taganana — as well as El Cresal – San Andrés Heights – among other isolated sites.
In total, the efforts have impacted an area of 1,500 hectares.
A remarkable 89% of the treated area corresponds to initiatives aimed at eradicating cat’s tail (Pennisetum setaceum), from which 44.4 tons have been removed.
Notably, cat’s tail is the species undergoing the most intensive control, while the next most managed plant is crassula (Crásula multicava), which represents 3.27% of the total area addressed.
Following this, the elimination of mil amores (Centranthus ruber) constitutes 2.11%, and prickly pear (Opuntia maxima) accounts for 1.24% of the treated square meters.
