The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, participated yesterday in the planting of Fayas to ensure the centennial tradition of the tissue hearts. During the reforestation event at Mountain Fagundo – situated between the lagoon and Tacoronte – she was joined by the associations of Cultural Interest (BIC) linked to the upper, lower, and El Pico streets, along with the Minister of Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez, and the area director, Pedro Millán.
In this natural area covering 32 hectares at the boundary of both municipalities, a natural recycling initiative has been initiated through the planting of specimens intended to create the plant material necessary for constructing the hearts.
Dávila, Pérez, and Millán were accompanied by various individuals, including the council members from the La Laguna Town Hall, Fran Hernández and Domingo Galván; the president of the Association Hearts of Tejina, Miguel López; and representatives from the upper street, Abel Hernández; lower street, Leonor González; and El Pico Street, Juan Manuel González.
Restoration
The Cabildo de Tenerife is restoring Fagundo Mountain to transform it into a natural classroom where environmental education projects will focus on reforesting the entire area. The Insular Corporation and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, represented by the Public Business Company ENAIRE – which manages air navigation and aeronautical information – have recently signed an agreement to carry out these initiatives. Blanca Pérez states that “this aims to create a significant green public space, underpinning a substantial educational project designed to engage schoolchildren and local associations.” The goal is “to establish a genuine refuge for biodiversity in a crucial location due to its strategic importance.”
Indigenous Species
This agreement will facilitate the reforestation with native species across the entire estate following the devastation of a forest fire that affected over 50% of the land in 2022. The Nature Classroom will serve to establish a biodiversity haven, coupled with various educational and environmental initiatives, such as the replanting of moist thermophilic forest species – particularly Fayal – undertaken through volunteer drives, school activities, and professional involvement.
Heritage
Rosa Dávila emphasises the project’s significance, indicating that it “illustrates how tradition and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.” She highlighted that “we are planting much more than trees; we are sowing the future of our customs and our respect for the environment.” She praised: “The festival of the tissue hearts is part of our identity, and this initiative assures its sustainable continuity.” She added that “this reforestation event aims to restore biodiversity in the area following recent fires while sustainably securing the supply of branches needed for creating hearts, as the association celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary.”
Sustainability
Minister Pérez underscores the importance of “taking a significant step towards the sustainability of the hearts tradition, particularly regarding the harvesting of Faya for heart production.” Furthermore, he elaborates that “this involves not only the residents in the planting and maintenance but also strengthens cultural identity.”
Community Involvement
Miguel López remarked that “we are beginning to realise one of our aspirations, having a designated area for our tradition where we can source the necessary Faya branches for heart production.” He emphasised that “it’s not just during August for the celebration of the patron and the co-celebration, but also during the traditions week in May, as well as around the Canary Islands Day, involving local schools.” He summarised: “We aimed to do this with the active participation of the community. Residents who wished to join in and enjoy the day each planted their own sapling and sponsored it; we feel content, especially celebrating our 25th anniversary. There’s no better gift than this.”
Historical Significance
Fran Hernández expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating that “they have managed to provide the people of Tejina with a historic opportunity: to have a space for cultivating their Faya in this region. Today is a celebration, especially seeing the community represented from various streets.” He added that “this also brings pride to the lagoon, rich with identity, folklore, and culture.”
Hearts Festival
The Filanos de Tejina festival, celebrated since the latter half of the 19th century, is one of the most deeply rooted cultural expressions in Tenerife. Declared a cultural interest asset in 2003, it reflects popular culture that blends festivity with religious zeal and possesses significant ethnographic and anthropological value. The celebrations occur in Tejina around August 24 (the feast day of San Bartolomé). Each year, these hearts are proudly raised as stunning banners proclaiming beauty and uniqueness.
