The Cabildo and Arrecife carry out cleaning and disinfection work in Parque de las Garcillas

The Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa has activated tasks to clean up the Garcillas Park, a strategic urban area located in Arrecife, next to the Cabildo building and the Guaguas Interchange. The measure responds to an environmental and sanitary need due to the absence of a similar comprehensive intervention since 2020.

The action responds to the high concentration of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) in this area, a species classified as Special Protection in the Canary Catalogue of Protected Species. The birds use the park daily to roost and nest, which has had a severe impact on the area. 

The emergency plan, coordinated through the Environment Service, will be carried out meticulously to ensure both public health and respect for the avifauna. Among other tasks, these include the pruning of the palm grove and the detailed removal of accumulated dirt, the collection and selective separation at source of plastics, paper, and cans for subsequent recycling, as well as the removal of debris and hygienic removal of bird remains.

The intervention will conclude with an intensive shock treatment of disinfection and deep deodorization with approved biocidal products, guaranteeing the elimination of infectious foci and bad odors to return the park to the citizens in optimal conditions of use and sanitary safety.

In this regard, the Minister of Environment of the Cabildo, Samuel Martín, stressed that "this measure is an absolute priority to resolve an unsanitary situation that directly affects the quality of life of our neighbors, as well as the image of this nerve center of Arrecife". Martín also highlighted that "guaranteeing the proper condition of public spaces is an inalienable commitment, combining the speed required by public health with the absolute respect and protection that local fauna requires".

For his part, the Councilor for Cleaning of the Arrecife City Council, Jacobo Lemes, highlighted that “coordination between administrations is fundamental for these actions to be carried out more effectively, and for us to continue advancing in the improvement and conservation of our public spaces”. Thus, he emphasized that “we will continue collaborating with the Cabildo in all those actions that contribute to improving and conditioning spaces in our city. In this case, we are making the necessary trays available to facilitate the removal and management of waste during the work carried out in Parque de las Garcillas”.