The Insular Corporation approved the commissioning of TRAGSA for the work, which will focus on the Acentejo pine forest
The Cabildo of Tenerife will allocate approximately €6,668,722 for the restoration and reforestation of the forest area affected by the major fire of 2023. The Insular Corporation recently approved the commissioning of the public company TRAGSA to carry out the project, which includes land preparation works, slope remediation and reforestation, among other actions. The execution period is set for 36 months.
The Regional Minister for Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez, states that “this is an initiative that will extend over several years and this year we will start with the Acentejo pine forest, with an investment of €1.3 million. We will work in specific areas of El Sauzal, La Matanza, and La Victoria, where some of the most damaged areas are located. This is a clear commitment to active and proactive forest management to keep our mountains healthy and alive.”
To carry out the works, it will be necessary to temporarily recover some currently unused roads, as the silvicultural tasks of replacing the radiata pine will require space for the extraction of burned wood. Efforts will also focus on the improvement of access routes, removal of landslides, and the remediation of severely affected slopes through manual work. The extracted wood will be chipped, and part of the budget will also be allocated to possible archaeological surveys that may arise during the process.
The project will be divided into four phases due to its complexity. The first area of action will focus on the removal of burned wood, slope remediation, and earthworks, as well as providing materials and safety equipment for the workers. In the second phase, treatments will be conducted to assist in the regeneration of the forest mass and reforestation through new plantings, particularly in areas most affected by the fire. Bioengineering work is also planned to analyse and detect those areas of land that may be more susceptible to soil degradation.
The third phase of the works will focus on improving the tree mass and its organisation to enhance the condition of unaffected but impacted species. The spread of pests by biotic and abiotic agents will also be controlled to facilitate wood production. The drainage of water in the soil and subsoil will be improved. Finally, comprehensive replanting in clear areas with Canarian pine, treatments in the undergrowth, chipping of residues, soil protection, and erosion control will be carried out.
