Councilor Mariano Hernández Zapata values ​​the collaboration between administrations on the island for the protection of natural heritage and the prevention of fires

The president of the Cabildo, Casimiro Curbelo, announces that they are working on expanding the national park by 200 hectares

The event brought together members of the National Park, the EIRIF and staff of the Cabildo of La Gomera in one of the most emblematic natural spaces of the Canary Islands.

The Department of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, directed by Mariano Hernández Zapata, commemorated European Parks Day this Friday with an institutional visit to the Garajonay National Park, in La Gomera, in a day focused on the conservation of natural heritage and coordination between administrations for the protection of the natural spaces of the archipelago.

One of the main events of the day took place in the Igualero area, where the counselor, accompanied by the president of the Island Council of La Gomera and representatives of the Environment area, learned about the joint work carried out by the different personnel linked to the prevention and extinction of forest fires on the island.

Media from the Garajonay National Park itself, members of the Forest Fire Intervention and Reinforcement Teams (EIRIF) of the Government of the Canary Islands and personnel from the Cabildo de La Gomera operation participated in this meeting, highlighting the importance of institutional cooperation for the protection of one of the main natural treasures of the Canary Islands.

Councilor Mariano Hernández Zapata highlighted that “European Parks Day is an opportunity to recognize the enormous work carried out daily by professionals and administrations involved in the conservation of our natural spaces.”

Likewise, he pointed out that "Garajonay represents an example of coordination and shared commitment between institutions to protect a unique natural heritage, especially in a context marked by the effects of climate change and the increase in risks associated with forest fires", a commitment reflected in the fact that "the investment of the Government of the Canary Islands in the national park exceeds 9.4 million euros in the last two years, destined for conservation and public use."

The president of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, emphasized the social and cultural role of the Garajonay National Park for the Gomera society and assured that the tourist development of the island has always had this natural space as its main value. In this sense, he detailed the set of investments materialized not only in this natural space, but in the rest of the corners of the island territory with an endowment of more than 8 million euros in the last two years and 200 actions.

Curbelo defended institutional unity to continue providing Garajonay with the technical and human means necessary for its preservation, “and to face the challenges of the effects of climate change on the most vulnerable ecosystems.” In this sense, he announced that work is already underway to expand the surface of the park by an additional 200 hectares in the Majona area. “We are already working to make it a reality very soon,” he stated.

The visit later continued in the Laguna Grande Recreational Area, at whose Information Point the National Park staff made a presentation on the current situation of Garajonay and the main lines of work linked to conservation, public use and management of the protected space.

In addition, the delegation carried out part of the circular route number 3 accompanied by public use personnel of the park, in a day also aimed at highlighting the role of national parks as spaces for conservation, environmental education and connection between citizens and nature.

European Parks Day is celebrated every May 24 to commemorate the creation of the first European national parks and highlight the importance of these protected spaces in the conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage.