The government of Oswaldo Betancort (CC-PP) of the Cabildo of Lanzarote has rejected this Friday the motion on the creation of the Island Service for Conservation and Maintenance of the Canary Palm, also known as Phoenix Canariensis, which is an emblematic species in Lanzarote and in the Canary Islands in general.
According to the NC-UPY councilor, Óscar Noda, the Government group argued "the false story of working on it", therefore, Noda describes the decision of the president of the First Island Corporation as a "betrayal of the landscape of Lanzarote" and "his poor argumentation".
In defense of the initiative, Óscar Noda stressed that "the presence of this palm tree is fundamental for the local landscape, as it provides a distinctive and tropical aspect to the Island. In addition to its aesthetic value, these palm trees play a crucial role in biodiversity, providing habitats for various species of birds and insects. In addition, the Canary palm has been historically used in architecture and as a source of traditional materials. Its conservation is essential to maintain the ecological balance and preserve the natural and cultural identity of Lanzarote."
The mayor of Yaiza also warned "that there are many conditions and situations that are seriously endangering our palm trees. We must be aware that the Canary palm gives us a unique landscape in the world and that distinguishes us from other island territories of the Archipelago with its beautiful image. We enjoy them in areas such as the municipality of Yaiza, the interior of the Island, and of course, it has a strong presence in Tinajo and La Vegueta, Masdache, San Bartolomé and the beautiful palm grove of Haría and Máguez."
The coalition formed by NC-UPY warned all the island councilors that the main threats to the Canary palm are: the red weevil, one of the biggest threats whose larvae feed on the internal tissue of the palm trees, causing irreparable damage. The diocalandra and pathogenic fungi that are fungal diseases that can affect the roots, causing wilting and eventual death of the palm tree, however, "the government of Oswaldo Betancort seems not to care about rejecting a comprehensive response and an island service to mitigate this serious problem."
The text of the initiative proposed a comprehensive management to accurately mitigate the threats, including preventive measures, constant monitoring and the active participation of the community in the conservation of the Canary palm. It also proposes a joint and island solution to a problem suffered by the people of Lanzarote and proposes solutions to its gradual deterioration. "It is crucial to create this Island Service for Maintenance and Conservation of the Canary Palm from the first island corporation and thus maintain one of our main and beautiful images and to which the municipalities, after a framework agreement, can join and contribute with municipal funds, it is the responsible and technically most viable", said vehemently the councilor Óscar Noda.
“We have recently learned through the media that Lanzarote will have 2,000,000 euros for the eradication mainly of the diocalandra, allocated by the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Government of the Canary Islands and by the Cabildo of Lanzarote, good news that was in favor of the initiative we presented. Therefore, we intended to concentrate the necessary efforts and add the amounts, to comprehensively address the conditions of the palm trees of Lanzarote, so we do not understand the rejection of the island government, this tradition to the landscape of Lanzarote, this refusal to create this vital service for our palm trees and less argue with the common place, 'we are working on it', because we see how palm trees continue to die, we see how we lose one of our hallmarks", questioned Noda.
Pilot test in Yaiza
The councilor Óscar Noda, wanted to highlight the pilot test carried out in Yaiza during the previous term, when the southern Consistory hired a municipal palm tree maintenance service, acting even with palm trees that are not owned by the municipality in certain spaces and road margins with an extraordinary result.
However, that service is clearly insufficient given the budgetary limitations of a municipal institution. "Faced with a common problem, the Island requires a comprehensive and island response, so we present this proposal that is technically the most favorable", said Óscar Noda.