The Environment area of the Cabildo of Lanzarote is working on a project for the restoration of volcanic cones and degraded areas in the Natural Park of the Volcanoes, in order to "recover the ecosystem and reduce the deterioration of habitats of community interest present in this natural space of the island".
“Misuse and overcrowding endanger the conservation of this space in the long term, where degradation progresses gradually”, says the councilor of the area, Elena Solís, who affirms that for this reason it is "necessary and urgent" to intervene in the Natural Park of the Volcanoes.
For this purpose, the first island corporation has requested financing from the Government of the Canary Islands charged to the European Next Generation funds, of which 996,027 euros have been allocated to Lanzarote for the restoration of ecosystems and green infrastructure.
The Councilor for the Environment of the Cabildo made a technical visit this Tuesday to some of the areas of the Natural Park of the Volcanoes where it is intended to intervene, together with those responsible for the unit in charge of managing the funds, belonging to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning of the Canary Islands Government.
Actions that are contemplated
As Elena Solís explains, the project will be directed by Geoparque Lanzarote and in it “cleaning and restoration tasks of degraded areas are contemplated as a consequence not only of overcrowding, but also of the transit of people and vehicles such as bicycles through unauthorized areas and the extraction of volcanic materials and minerals such as olivine in the surroundings of the volcanoes”
Likewise, the Cabildo maintains that work will be carried out to "erase footprints and the marks of vehicles that have created alternative paths through which passage is not allowed" and "deterrent barriers will be installed to prevent the transit of visitors through these areas." In addition, they announce from the Corporation that signage will be placed "to inform about the sanctioning regime in case of incurring in an illicit act", which will also offer information on natural and geological values.
“The Natural Park of the Volcanoes houses populations of animals and plants classified as endangered species and the degradation of the land caused by footprints, both human and vehicle wheels, must be avoided, which may trigger the crushing of endemic species existing in the area and promote an anthropization of the ecosystem”, adds the councilor.
Similarly, for the complete recovery of the ecosystem, the Cabildo details that "a control of invasive exotic plant species will be carried out, as well as the revegetation and substitution of said foreign species by other potential species of the area if necessary".
The locations where it is intended to carry out these actions are located in the vicinity of the different volcanic cones that make up the Natural Park of the Volcanoes and would be the following: Caldera El Cuervo, Montaña Negra, Caldera Colorada, Caldera Blanca, La Caldereta, Montaña Ortiz, El Señalo, La Rilla, Pico Partido, El Golfo, Montaña Bermeja and Tingafa.
