Santa Cruz de Tenerife 21 Mar. (Europa Press) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife and the Forest Foundation have reviewed the ‘Tenerife Renace’ programme, an initiative encompassing ecological restoration efforts in areas impacted by the wildfire that struck the island in August 2023, which has gathered 280,522.80 euros until February 2025.
The project involves 34 partner organisations and throughout its implementation, nine specialist personnel, a site supervisor for field operations, and one administrative staff member have been employed.
Consequently, the initiative has taken place at the Wolfredo Wildpret nursery, situated in the Teide National Park, where 200 metres of fencing have been replaced, the pond has been restored, and the surrounding area of the pond has been naturalised, clearing and processing with burnt and felled pine vegetation in diameters less than 20 metres.
Efforts have also been made at the La Bermeja viewpoint, where interventions have been carried out over approximately 5.6 hectares, with plans to extend this over an additional 17 hectares. Activities such as clearing dead escobones, implementing fajinas, and stacking fine branches with thicker and medium-sized branches have been conducted, alongside repopulation and stabilisation operations.
The initiative has facilitated the planting of 2,541 specimens of cedar, pine, escobón, Madroño, and Faya. Moreover, 13 environmental days have been conducted with participating entities, engaging 470 individuals.
RESULTS
Funds accumulated up to February 28, 2025, total 280,522.80 euros, of which 179,110 euros have been allocated, representing nearly 64%. Specifically, an audit is being conducted until June 2024, with a secondary evaluation planned for the end of 2024.
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, has expressed her joy that this initiative has become “the most significant collective commitment to nature” in Tenerife aimed at restoring the mountains affected by the wildfire in August 2023. “It elegantly demonstrates what can be accomplished when we unite our efforts towards a shared goal.”
Accordingly, the Cabildo de Tenerife has extended thanks this Friday, through recognition certificates, to the thirty partner organisations involved in the ‘Tenerife Renace’ initiative.
Meanwhile, the island director of the natural environment highlighted the “example” of teamwork and community involvement that this initiative has represented and commended the contributions of the more than thirty participating entities.
“This is a four-year programme and we must continue as there are many hectares yet to be restored. The ideal time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is today. I encourage everyone to get involved with the Tenerife Renace project,” stated Alicia Rodríguez, director of the Forest Foundation.
Launched in October 2023, ‘Tenerife Renace’, which has an initial duration of four years, seeks to channel assistance from individuals and legal entities wishing to contribute towards restoring the Tenerife mountains affected by the significant fire of 2023.
Thus, its aim is to coordinate and advance restoration activities that will benefit the island’s rural and forest development, as noted by the Cabildo.
The strategy encompasses establishing a network of initiatives designed to restore mountains, facilitate citizen participation, and generate technical knowledge regarding fire incidents and learning restoration techniques for ecosystems afflicted by such disasters.
The ‘Tenerife Renace’ patronage project is tasked with securing the necessary funds for its implementation through a private fundraising campaign dedicated to the restoration of the Tenerife landscapes.
The project has been promoted by Innovaris, with support from the CEOE-Harife and Inco-Lab Smart Island Cluster, alongside the public television and radio entities of the Canary Islands, SA, and the Canarian Confederation of Entrepreneurs joining in.
