Tenerife’s Cabildo has voiced strong support for La Palma’s president, Sergio Rodríguez, amid ongoing delays in establishing the National Centre for Volcanology (CNV), a key infrastructure for the Canaries and Spain.
President Rosa Dávila expressed deep concern over the Spanish government’s failure to finalise the agreement for the CNV and its significant reduction of the originally planned funding, despite earlier commitments made after La Palma’s volcanic eruption.
“The National Centre for Volcanology is essential for enhancing safety, research, prevention, and response to volcanic risks in the Canaries. We cannot allow unjustified delays or unilateral decisions that undermine a project aimed at scientific excellence and leadership from the islands,” she said.
The Tenerife Cabildo emphasised that the initial model, which shares operations between La Palma and Tenerife, aligns with scientific and strategic goals to position the Canaries as a global leader in volcanology research.
Any moves to centralise scientific leadership or reduce the project’s scope would be an unacceptable regression, especially in a volcanically active region like the Canaries, where local knowledge and operational capability are vital.
Dávila also raised concerns about the recently announced budget cuts, which threaten the CNV’s potential to become a world reference in volcanic risk research and management.
“Canarias has proven its scientific and managerial capabilities. Now it is the State’s turn to honour its commitments to La Palma and the entire archipelago,” she asserted.
The Tenerife Cabildo reiterated its commitment to collaborate with La Palma’s government, the Canaries government, and relevant authorities to ensure the CNV is developed with the necessary resources and scope.
“We must unite our voices on strategic issues for the Canaries. Advocating for the National Centre for Volcanology is about safety, knowledge, and the future of the entire archipelago,” concluded Dávila.
