Las Peñitas, Rural Park of Betancuria

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The radio visits one of the most special and beautiful places in Fuerteventura, "Las Peñitas", a protected place since, remember, it is within the Rural Park of Betancuria. We are accompanied by the Minister of Environmental Sustainability of the Cabildo, Lola García for whom "we have to believe and take care of the paradise that is Fuerteventura".

We are precisely where, according to specialists, the oldest specimens of palm trees in the Canary Islands are located. Precisely the Cabildo of Fuerteventura has commissioned a diagnosis of the most important palm groves of the island since they are in frank retreat. In this sense, it can be observed for years how the oldest specimens are dying.
To avoid this situation as much as possible, the counselor details the action plan that begins with a diagnosis to later move to a coordinated work with municipalities, private companies and technicians. For the head of Sustainability "we are facing a long-term project that will prioritize natural environments, but where actions are also planned in urban areas"
Environmental education program "Know to Protect"
"Knowing to Protect", this is the name of the project that brings this and other places of Fuerteventura closer to the population, to, through knowledge, awaken the awareness of protection. The counselor stressed that, in addition to individual citizens, groups and associations also have a lot to say in the care of the environment, in fact more and more are working on the island and before this the council has called for subsidies to support environmental projects. "We are talking about a newly created line of grants," he recalled.
Employment
Lola García insisted on the link between the environment and employment, giving as an example the employment plans of ecological transition. More than forty unemployed people have joined the plan where workers develop for nine months different tasks for the promotion of good practices in the natural environment, educational talks and awareness.
The Sea
We end at sea, since the second edition of the Marine Litter Observatory (OBAM) program has begun, where different actions are collected within the framework of the island's climate change strategy.
García told us about a pilot project to reduce the impact of microplastics in the waters near the island. It is an innovative prototype for the collection of microplastics, which will be coupled to fishing vessels and will allow them to be collected and classified by size to be later analyzed.
To implement this tool, the OBAM calls for the collaboration of fishermen. In this way, we want to know all the requirements that the project must have so as not to interfere in its work and that it can also add some advantage or beneficial parameter for sea workers.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Diario:

"If we do not intervene now, 20% of the palm trees of Las Peñitas will die".

Eduardo Fránquiz, responsible for the study on the palm groves of Fuerteventura.

Eduardo Fránquiz, environmental consultant specialized in the environment, agriculture and organic agriculture and gardening, began last November to have contact with the majorero ecosystems, especially the palm groves. He soon realized his situation. They were 'in the ICU' and, if it was not remedied soon, many centuries-old palm trees of the Island would end up disappearing. After transferring the situation to the Cabildo majorero, the institution commissioned him an initial diagnosis of the natural palm groves.

-What ecological and biological values do the palm groves of Fuerteventura present?

-One of the characteristics that stands out in the natural palm groves of Fuerteventura is its high anthropization by agricultural activities associated with natural ecosystems. In this way, what once belonged to a natural palm grove is today in a rural palm grove. In Las Peñitas, we find the most important palm grove in the Archipelago, especially for its genetic pool. These palm trees are daughters of those who gave birth to the Canarian palm tree as a species. The Canarian palm tree was born in Fuerteventura and from there it went to Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. From Gran Canaria to La Gomera and from La Gomera to Tenerife and La Palma and from Tenerife it spread as an ornamental plant internationally. If we lose that palm grove, we will lose one of the hallmarks of worldwide recognition, both biologically and botanically.

-In recent months, there has been an alarm about the situation of the palm grove of Las Peñitas, what is your diagnosis?

-In the palm grove of Las Peñitas a total of 52 scattered palm trees are located, mainly at the bottom of the ravine and on the west side. Right now, there is a big problem. By the data taken through the historical photographic material, consultations of works carried out in the palm grove and the first data collection in the field, an unprecedented regression is observed, in its biology and ecology. There has been no natural regeneration for 70 years. The degree of deterioration is such that we observe multiple dead centenary specimens, not closing their biological cycle in an ecosystem that should be balanced. There is no natural regeneration, the soils are very altered so the plant can not complete its natural process, creating a nutritional disturbance. We must add the dehydration of the soil due to overexploitation of aquifers and the deforestation of thermophilic forests, which are ecosystems associated with the Canarian palm oasis. In addition, we have seen that it has not emitted flowering in recent years and that indicates that the palm grove is dying. To that is added that there are threats of pests and diseases next to the protected natural spaces. If we do not intervene now, when we pass the summer crisis, 20 percent of the palm trees of Las Peñitas will probably die.

-What has gone wrong to reach this situation?

-The alteration of ecosystems. The ecosystem of natural palm groves is associated with thermophilic forest ecosystems. In Fuerteventura, there was a large palm grove that lived in the bottoms of ravines, valleys and plains, mainly in the Betancuria massif. All these bottoms of ravines were cooled and hydrated thanks to a thermophilic forest that was in the area. It disappeared due to timber harvesting and the introduction of agriculture. It was then that the palm groves began to enter into crisis. The vertical elements (palm trees) that make up the Majorero landscape are strongholds of what were large palm groves. That, together with the use of agriculture and the overgrazing that currently exists, has made ecosystems highly altered. That leads to is a compaction of soil and lack of soil hydration. The biomicrobiology of the soil is totally altered and that is what is causing that not only there is no regeneration, but that no manifestation of flower emission has been seen for many years in the palm grove of Las Peñitas.

"This summer we will see many palm trees die in the rural environment due to falls"

-Climate change should not help either...

-Affects. We are in a climate crisis. It hasn't rained in Fuerteventura for eight years. One of the characteristics of the genus, mainly of Phoenix canariensis and Phoenix dactylifera, is that it has a system of adaptation to extreme conditions, but always in natural cycles. The palm tree receives water two, three, four times a year, but in large volumes. Water stores it in all its tissues and that covers times of drought. By prolonging those cycles for many more years, it costs him much more to survive. The climate crisis is forcing the disappearance of the palm tree. This is in addition to the fact that the respiratory system and the digestive system of the plant are not working due to alteration of the microbiota and the rhizosphere of the soil ecosystem. All this favors much more the crisis that exists in the palm groves.

-Given this situation, what can we do to save the palm grove of Las Peñitas?

-Within the urgent measures, the first thing to do is to recover the soil. We need a balanced soil with a forest that feeds on the biomass that is generated. If we eliminate the biomass, we are reducing the feeding capacity of the palm tree. In addition, it is necessary to give hydration supports to the soil, initially, to balance and work with the native microbiology. It is necessary to capture from the forests of native microbiology of the Phoenix canariense, reproduce it, activate it and inoculate it again. That is what will make the necessary transformation so that the plant can be fed. We have to work the digestive system of the plant and its ecosystem, the respiratory system of the soil biota and the vascular system of the plant.

-To that we will have to add a work of social awareness ...

- Yes. In Fuerteventura there is a fairly significant deficit of environmental awareness. That's one of the things that worries me the most. Above all, civil society and social organizations. I think they are not aware that natural ecosystems are dying and do not react. Anthropocentrism is so high that we don't realize we're part of the ecosystem. We must work a lot in environmental education, mainly with the schools in the area to link the population, through an environmental education program, so that they know the ecosystems. Also with a long-term reforestation program where children reproduce the plant and carry out conservation. If we do not work on these keys, we will hardly have a balanced development in Fuerteventura.

-The institutions will also have to put the batteries on, right?

-También habría que trabajar con las instituciones, tanto Cabildo, ayuntamientos como SEPRONA, en dos líneas: detección precoz de plagas y enfermedades que afectan a las palmeras, para que no se introduzcan dentro del medio natural. Aquí tenemos serias amenazas de plagas y enfermedades. También hay que hacer protocolos estandarizados en la evaluación de riesgo del arbolado urbano.

-Hemos hablado del palmeral de Las Peñitas, pero ¿cuál es la situación de los de Ajuy y Vega de Río Palmas?

-En el de Ajuy hay regeneración natural cero. Hay dos grandes cementerios, uno se localiza justo por debajo de donde está el corazón de Madre del Agua. Allí vemos un decaimiento de palmeras centenarias bastante importante. Hay otro cementerio llegando a Ajuy. Si observamos bien, vemos que en las zonas intermedias de esos dos cementerios se están muriendo también palmeras. Esos dos grandes cementerios se están uniendo. Hablamos de cientos de palmeras centenarias muertas. Es un palmeral muy importante, sobre todo porque en él se concentra una masa de palmeras centenarias muy importante. El de Vega de Río Palmas es también muy importante y en él se observa una regeneración natural muy baja. Allí también están decayendo palmeras centenarias.

-¿En qué situación se hallan las rurales?
-We see many specimens in Antigua, Ampuyenta, Rosa de los Negrines, Toto, Pájara and Tuineje. Centuries ago, these vertical elements were part of a large natural palm grove. After the conquest, agriculture arrived and they were anthropized. The water regime was changed, making them dependent on agricultural use. With the advent of tourism, agriculture was abandoned and, with it, there was an alteration of the water regime. There began, then, to be a decay. The fall of palm trees that is taking place in the rural environment is quite high, but we have not realized it because it has been gradual. This summer we will see many palm trees die in rural areas. We must try to recover agriculture.

-And the palm groves of the cities?

-They are the most abused palm groves. There is a pathetic and chaotic management model. They are completely infected in cities by Diocalandra frumenti, which is a lethal pest for the palm tree. Everything indicates that they are vectors of transmission of two fungi Thielaviopsis paradoxa and there is also a fusarium oxiosporum generalized throughout the urban environment of the Island. Costa Calma, for example, is a tremendous source of infection. So are Morro Jable, Corralejo, Antigua or Puerto del Rosario, where we see how the plague is completely widespread and that is due to bad cultural practices. Managers are using a series of techniques that are prohibited by the order of October 29, 2007, which declares the existence of pests and regulates the control of these threats. Among other things, the cutting of green leaves and the use of chainsaw for cutting green leaves are prohibited. The urban ecosystem is badly damaged. Every time we will see more palm trees fall.

-What pests hit them?

-So far I have not detected infected palm trees in Las Peñitas. On the other hand, in Vega de Río Palmas yes. There is Diocalandra and prohibited practices have been carried out such as brushing stipes and cutting green leaves in a protected natural space. With this, we expose the plant to contamination from pathogens. In Ajuy they are also infected and in the avenue of Gran Tarajal we see how there is a great focus of pests. If the biological and ecological functioning of the plant were known, the things that are being done would not be done. The problem is that an aesthetic criterion is used and in that way we put the plant at risk. It is necessary to give training to the staff of SEPRONA, municipalities and Cabildo so that they know what can be done and what can not. They have to know, early, to detect any pest that can be introduced into the natural environment.

-What knowledge should the people who work in the palm groves have?

-People who work in or near a protected natural area must have a deep understanding of how the palm tree works both ecologically and biologically. It cannot happen that a person who is working with the palm trees of a hotel complex then goes to a rural or natural palm grove and continues to work there because, in that way, the pathogens are moving. They are the main vectors of transmission. The insect does not fly. They are transferred by them.

"I'm worried about seeing ecosystems die and associations won't move"

-Is there a census of palm trees on the island?

-The General Directorate of the Environment made a census in 2017 that must be updated and reviewed. In the urban environment, the City Council of Puerto del Rosario has a census, but it is usually a task that is not usually done. In the urban environment we do not know the number of palm trees. In the natural and rural are around 30,000.

-In 2012, the Ministry of Environment of the Canarian Government created a project to save Las Peñitas. Ten years later, it seems that it has not yielded results...

-The projects that are brought from outside to Fuerteventura are a failure. They are projects that run and go. They have to be developed on the island, by people from here and, above all, link civil society to be successful. I have studied the project in Las Peñitas and I think it was Money that had no results. We must work from the grassroots, through the covering of soils, but linking civil society: schools and social and business organizations.

-How many palm trees have been born in recent years in natural and rural areas?

-We do not yet have these data, but natural regeneration is practically zero in the three main palm groves: Las Peñitas, Ajuy and Vega de Río Palmas. In the Peñitas, 35 percent of the palm trees have died in the last 10 years.

-After drawing this situation, it seems clear that there has been a lack of will...
Civil and organized society have a responsibility and are having tremendous passivity. That is where we must make an impact. If society moves, institutions move. I worry about ecosystems dying and associations defending heritage not moving.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The Socialist Parliamentary Group presents for this next Plenary session of the regional Chamber a Proposal No of Law (PNL) to implement conservation, repair and prevention measures for the palm groves of Fuerteventura, due to the deterioration and high mortality of this species that is part of the landscape of the island.
 
In the proposal, defended by the Socialist deputy for Fuerteventura Pedro Sosa, it is requested that research be promoted on the causes of mortality observed in palm groves of Fuerteventura, as well as that collaboration be established with local and island administrations in order to establish a joint strategy to address the decline of the palm groves of Fuerteventura.
The initiative also calls for the adoption of prevention measures deemed appropriate from now on, to avoid the spread of pests and other factors that may affect palm trees while identifying the causes of their mortality.
Sosa recalls that the palm groves are part of the landscape of Fuerteventura, and that they constitute an "essential element" in the ecosystems linked to certain ravine bottoms of the island, but that, nevertheless, some of these palm groves such asLas Peñitas, Madre del Agua and Gran Tarajal, have presented in recent years a high mortality of adult specimens.
The proposal emphasizes that it does not seem a specific phenomenon, nor that it tends to stabilize, but, on the contrary, there is an increasing mortality of specimens of palm trees that until a few years ago presented good appearance. "The weakening or falling of specimens over 20 meters high, exposing their roots, is increasingly frequent. Various factors, such as the lack of rainfall, the effect of pests and diseases, or the degradation of soils, could be affecting individually or jointly the unusual and accelerated mortality of palm trees, "it is indicated.
For the Socialist deputy, in a territory with scarce vegetation such as the island of Fuerteventura, the disappearance of plant species adapted to their aridity conditions constitutes a "relevant environmental loss", both for its ecological importance and for its landscape value.
In his opinion, it is a complex problem in which the causes that trigger it must be identified, for which it is necessary to investigate it, and then apply the appropriate measures. "We are facing a problem that requires the intervention of the administrations before it is too late."
In this sense, it highlights the efforts that the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning have initiated for the control of this pest and the protection of the affected palm groves, through several initiatives such as the agreement signed with the Cabildo de Lanzarote within the Control Plan of the Pest of Diocalandra Frumenti in the palm trees of the island of Lanzarote.
The plan, which will be developed until 2025 and is 50% financed between the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo de Lanzarote, will be an important milestone for the conservation of the palm groves of this island, and "a clear example of proactive policies for the defense of one of our most famous plant species, in line with the work we must undertake in Fuerteventura".