He Forestry of the Canary Islands is a strategic document that is already in its final phasesince the Autonomous Environmental Evaluation Commission (CAEA) has already approved it in ordinary session.
This plan is Complement with other laws and projects that aim the preservation, protection and empowerment of the employment of the mountains and that they have been carried out taking into account both social demands, as well as the reality of climate change and its possible consequences.
Canary Islands: Protection of Montes
The counselor of the area, Mariano H. Zapata, highlighted the importance of this mile climatic and social realities of the different islands” In this way, he explained that the passage through the CAEA “is a fundamental requirement to guarantee its environmental viability”, and that now, “it must rise to the Governing Council for its final approval.”
Sovee this document, recalled that it has already exceeded the public information phase, and that “it is the result of a participatory and consensus process With the forest technical sector, administrations and citizenship, which guarantees to have realistic and effective measures ”.
It also showed the need to have an updated text, since the current forest plan dates prepared to face the current forest and environmental challenges, given facts such as increasing temperatures or a considerable decrease in rainfall such as consequence of climate change”.
The forest plan of Canary Islands It establishes the forestry strategy and defines the lines of action for the next 21 years, with actions planned in time and periodic evaluation mechanisms every seven years. Among its main objectives are the active conservation of ecosystems, sustainable forest management and the promotion of responsible and recreational use of the natural environment. This plan seeks to protect, enhance and value the forest area of the islands, which exceeds 578,227 hectares (78%), of which 25%is wooded surface, being the Canarian pine predominant vegetable in the Canarian mountains.
Strategic axes in forest matters
In parallel to this action, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of Canary Islands It also works in two other strategic axes in forest matters. “The protection of our mountains is not only an environmental priority, but also social and economic,” said Zapata, who recalled that the government “works in parallel in two other actions linked to this conservation and care of the mountains, such as the future Mountain Law of Canary Islands and the Modification of the Decree of Prevention and Extinction of Forest Fire”.
On the future law of Montes, the procedures have already begun and will be completed and developed based on the National Forestry Law, for which, after passing the prior public consultation, it is estimated to count with a first draft in this legislature. A text based on the protection of the specificities of the islands in forest and environmental matters, adapted to the new challenges of climate change and forest fires.
For its part, the review and modification of the decree law that regulates the prevention and extinction of forest fires and interface areas, will update the current 2001 decree, giving greater relevance to the adaptation to the adequacy of the Current regulatory framework and that once the Montes Law is launchedwill be absorbed by this, where after having the draft text, it is planned to approve throughout this year 2025.