The Governing Council of the Cabildo of Lanzarote agreed on December 5, 2024, to the proposal for approval of the Amendment to the Cooperation Agreement between the institution and the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Government of the Canary Islands, for the execution of the Plan for the control and eradication of the diocalandra frumenti plague in the palm trees of the Island of Lanzarote.
This addendum aims to increase the initially proposed actions, which are the following:
• Increase the trials or pilot studies that improve the knowledge of the plague and favor the resilience of palm trees against pests and diseases and against climate change, at the proposal and assessment of the Monitoring Commission.
• Preliminary assessment of the stability of the palm trees against the risk of falling or breaking, in palm trees selected in certain areas, due to their greater interest (public areas with high traffic and with a higher risk of falling).
• Conditioning of a greenhouse for acclimatization and planting of suitable species, in substitution of the palm trees that are eliminated in the “corridors” or aisles (alignments of palm trees on the margins of public roads: highways, avenues, etc.), and at technical discretion”.
Up to four million euros
With the signing of the addendum to the Agreement, it is planned to reach four million euros for the financing of this project, an expense financed in equal parts by the signing institutions and that will extend until the year 2028. This addendum implies an increase in investment of one million euros by each administration with respect to the original agreement to combat the Diocalandra frumenti plague.
Samuel Martín explained that during the development of the control plan works, the high expansion of the plague in the municipalities has become evident, with serious levels of affectation in wide areas, as well as the important presence of other pests and diseases. “So it is necessary to reinforce this type of action and expand the economic contribution and duration of the project, in order to save the palm grove of the island”, the councilor clarified.
For his part, the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, pointed out that this new joint effort between the Government of the Canary Islands and the Corporation he chairs “reflects our commitment to the biodiversity and environmental health of Lanzarote for future generations”.
As of November 8, 2024, phytosanitary treatments had already been carried out through the technique of endotherapy in a total of 1,950 palm trees on the island. In just over a year, around 60,000 palm trees have been inspected.
The actions that are being carried out can be followed through the website.