The Counsellor for Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Government, Mariano H. Zapata, and the Mayor of El Rosario, Escolástico Gil (IR-Verdes), accompanied by the Deputy Government Representative in the Canary Islands, Javier Plata, and the Vice President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Lope Afonso, inaugurated the coastal protection work at Tabaiba yesterday.
This project commenced at the end of 2023 with a budget of €2.1 million, aiming to address the impacts of rising sea levels in this coastal area of Tenerife, as part of the regional strategy for adaptation in coastal zones promoted by the Counsellor’s department.
Enhancements for Public Use
Additionally, the initiative enhances public accessibility to the area with safer and more comfortable access points, wooden sunbathing platforms, shaded relaxation areas, improved accessibility and integration of the existing promenade, featuring ramps, railings, and new facilities, including four showers, a self-cleaning toilet, benches, and bins.
Zapata noted that the breakwater and promenade area “suffered from storm impacts” and emphasised that the intervention “reduces current and future damage, reinforcing the adaptation of the Canarian coastline to climate change.” He explained that the project “includes strengthening the protective breakwater, improving access to the sea, and creating a landscaped area with native species that enhances environmental quality and provides refuge for wildlife.”
Future Adaptations
Moreover, he recalled that similar efforts are already underway across various regions of the Canary Islands, citing the adaptation of the coastal area of Las Galletas through Climate Action Projects, the coastline of Tazacorte, or the municipality of Garachico, thanks to the LIFE project.
In this context, he highlighted that protecting against rising sea levels does not mean closing off access but rather creating appropriate infrastructure that enhances safety while adding value to the area.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of El Rosario stated that this project “completes the regeneration of Tabaiba’s coastal front, transforming it into a safer location that will offer higher quality services for the enjoyment of local residents.” He specified that “durable and eco-friendly materials have been employed under the principle of environmental integration, along with the planting of marine-adapted vegetation to provide shade at various selected points along the coastline.”
“All of this has resulted in the transformation of the former degraded dirt area into a new recreational space with safe access to the sea,” he emphasised.
Escolástico Gil expressed his gratitude to the Counsellor for Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Government for their commitment to this local area and for the collaborative work carried out throughout the project, as well as to all other involved administrations, including the General Directorate of Coasts.
