Antonio Morales assures that, with this new project, "Gran Canaria's leadership in environmental matters is confirmed"
Europe will finance the measures to be carried out in Guguy and Arteara, as well as in Crete, with nearly four million euros, of which more than half will be invested in the Island
The Cabildo of Gran Canaria has obtained the European Union's approval for the 'Life Phoenix' project aimed at restoring and improving the priority palm grove habitat of the only two endemic species existing in Europe, focusing its work on Gran Canaria (Guguy and Arteara) and in Crete, said today the president of the insular Corporation, Antonio Morales, the organization that leads the project.
Thus, he explained that Europe has approved this project for Guguy and Arteara, in Gran Canaria, as well as on the Greek island of Crete, and that it will finance all the actions that will be carried out in both enclaves with nearly four million euros, of which that more than half will be invested in Gran Canaria, reaching the established maximum of 75%.
"With this new 'Life' project, the leadership of Gran Canaria in environmental matters is confirmed, a fact recognized by the European Commission through the most important financing program in environmental matters in the European Union," declared President Morales, This Council is the one that has achieved the greatest number of 'Life' projects. "And, without a doubt, the strategic environmental importance of Guguy is also recognized by Europe, having already approved two 'Life' projects in the area, given that, in 2013, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria obtained the 'Life Guguy' for the recovery of their cedar and juniper ecosystems," he recalled.
The island president explained that the actions will last five years, starting in September 2023, and, with them, 72 hectares of palm groves between the two regions will be restored, with the planting of 30.000 trees and shrubs. Likewise, he indicated that, for its execution, 15 direct and 30 indirect jobs will be created, and an investment of 1,2 million euros will be generated in the productive fabric through purchases and specialized assistance, among other areas.
In more detail, he specified that, among these actions, the analysis of the current situation of the palm groves and the design of an action plan stand out, for which a network of collaborators and entities will be created, dedicated to carrying out participation work that establish pest, disease and hybridization control measures, and, likewise, work groups and volunteers will be energized for their involvement in the project.
In this area, he noted that work will be carried out to prevent the risks of forest fires and soil loss, and specific strategies will be developed for the early detection, control and eradication of diseases and pests.
Likewise, the president of Gran Canaria pointed out that tasks will be launched to improve the conservation of palm trees, through the collection of seeds and their conservation in authorized seed banks, in addition to other environmental restoration, through control. of the presence of invasive species.
A broad set of measures to achieve which several partners that Morales listed will join forces: Gesplan, which will act as coordinator, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, the General Directorate of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Canary Islands Institute of Agrarian Research, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece, Autonomous Bodies of the Island of Crete and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.
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A habitat at risk
"This project has been approved because in European territory there are two endemic species of palm trees: in the Canary Islands we have the Canary Islands palm ('Phoenix canariensis') and, in Greece, the one from the island of Crete ('Phoenix theophrasti')," he stressed. Antonio Morales. And he regretted that, in both European regions, this habitat suffers from various environmental problems that put its conservation at risk, among which the alteration of the habitat by invasive exotic species, the spread of diseases and pests, forest fires and pressure from effects of climate change.
"In the case of the Canary Islands palm tree, it is one of the most used species and known for its great beauty, a fact that means that we can find it in different cities around the world," he stated. A fact that, according to him, has generated problems due to incorrect management of the garden areas, which has caused the appearance and spread of pests and diseases in natural areas. And to this we must add that the introduction of other species, such as the date palm, is generating a hybridization of specimens that already affects natural areas.
"With this worrying situation, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, through the public company Gesplan, leads the 'Life Phoenix' proposal, which aims to unite the administrations involved, the research centers, the managers of the natural environment and the population. , in order to generate lines of work that allow the situation to be redirected and not lose this habitat that is a hallmark of the Canary Islands, and especially of Gran Canaria," said President Morales.
Because, ultimately, he argued that the objectives of this 'Life' project are to improve the general conservation of the habitat and its associated biodiversity through 'in situ' conservation, reduce risks of hybridization, reforestation and climate change mitigation; develop prevention, early detection and control strategies plus the eradication of pests and invasive plants in the intervention areas, and implement 'ex situ' conservation strategies, with the inclusion of the seed bank.
A long history of measures for its conservation
Antonio Morales emphasized that, with the approval of this project, steps continue to be taken in favor of the conservation and protection of Guguy, since, in 1987, it was included in the Law of Natural Spaces of the Canary Islands, to, subsequently, be declared a Special Natural Reserve, incorporated into the Natura 2000 Network and included, in 2005, in the Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve as one of its two core areas.
Added to this is the 'Life Guguy' project mentioned above, which the Cabildo of Gran Canaria achieved in 2013, and the acquisition, in 2021, by the insular Corporation of the land that had been seized by the Ministry of Finance and began the procedure for the declaration of a marine and terrestrial National Park, since the territory of Guguy is mostly public property, since the La Aldea City Council is the owner of a large part of the surface that is requested to be declared a Maritime and Terrestrial National Park.
Finally, the island president commented that two new milestones have occurred: that the European technicians reported positively, just a few days ago, the actions of the 'Life Guguy' and that the Government of the Canary Islands sent the proposed Park declaration to the Government of Spain. National, which will have to be approved as a Law by the Congress of Deputies.
