The San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council is promoting an ambitious project to renaturalize public spaces, with the aim of promoting urban biodiversity and mitigating the effects of climate change by creating 'islands of coolness' in urban environments.
The initiative, promoted by the Department of the Presidency headed by Deputy Mayor Elena Álamo Vega, will be presented this Friday to the Municipal Council Plenary for approval, as a preliminary step to its inclusion in the Biodiversity Foundation's call for grants, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This call is part of the program for the recovery and improvement of urban green infrastructure in Spanish cities.
The total project budget amounts to €2.997.091,47, of which 85% (€2.547.527,75) would be financed by ERDF funds through the Biodiversity Foundation. The remaining 15% (€449.563,72) would be contributed by the City Council itself, in accordance with the percentages established for regions in transition.
The planned actions are structured around a Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Master Plan that will guide the implementation of nature-based solutions in three strategic areas of the municipality.
First, the project involves renaturalizing a degraded urban space located on Avenida Touroperador Neckermann, in the Campo Internacional de Maspalomas. Currently, this unused lot will be transformed into a large, diverse, and accessible green area, designed for public gatherings and enjoyment.
In parallel, the transformation of schoolyards into cooler, safer, and climate-adapted environments will be promoted. These initiatives seek to promote children's physical, emotional, and environmental interaction, improving their well-being and fostering contact with nature. The first schools to implement this model will be CEO Pancho Guerra, Escuela Infantil Los Fraguel Rock, and CEIP Juan Grande, where shaded areas, vegetation, and sustainable drainage systems will be created.
As a third line of action, the project envisions the restoration of a deteriorated public space on the slope of the Botanical Park. Currently, this slope is unstable and prone to erosion. It will be stabilized and transformed into a green infrastructure and biodiversity hub, safe and functional for the area's residents.
2 Objectives: sustainability, health and citizen participation
The "Islands of Freshness" project aims to restore urban spaces with natural solutions, create climate refuges, increase urban biodiversity, and improve the ecological connectivity of green spaces. At the same time, it seeks to contribute to the well-being of the population through healthier, more multifunctional, and inclusive environments, especially in school areas and densely urbanized areas. Citizen participation will be a key element in ensuring that interventions respond to the real needs of the community.
The Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Master Plan will consider an equitable incorporation of vegetation to reduce thermal risk, capture atmospheric carbon, and improve water efficiency by leveraging resources such as reclaimed water.
This plan will require a detailed technical analysis of each location, including its thermal behavior, existing vegetation, water connectivity, accessibility, and climate risks. In addition, specific technical proposals will be designed for each space, with measures such as soil improvement, drainage, shading, and revegetation, along with a participatory methodology that actively involves the educational community and residents.
3 Schoolyards: From Concrete to Climate Shelter
Regarding the intervention in the first three schools (CEO Pancho Guerra, Fraguel Rock Infant School, and CEIP Juan Grande), Elena Álamo explains that "the schoolyards, currently paved and with high thermal absorption, will be transformed into true climate shelters through the planting of trees, the installation of shade elements, and improvements in water management." She adds that "priority will be given to the use of native plant species—trees, shrubs, aromatic plants, and climbers—adapted to the local climate. Combined with elements that attract wildlife, these areas will promote urban biodiversity and awareness of natural heritage, paving the way for more responsible environmental management in the school and urban environment."
