Anaga Residents Threaten Protests Over Unchecked Invasive Plant Crisis
Residents of Tenerife’s Anaga Massif are threatening protests against the island council, citing a lack of resources to combat an aggressive spread of invasive plant species that is destroying local ecosystems and farmland.
A biodiversity crisis in the Anaga Massif has sparked a standoff between local residents and island authorities. According to El Día, the rapid spread of invasive plant species in areas like Afur, Roque Negro, and Taborno has left villagers feeling abandoned. Residents argue that this unchecked growth is destroying local ecosystems and threatening their ability to farm.
The core of the dispute is a lack of resources from the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo). While the council launched a control program for exotic species in 2019, locals point out that the current team—consisting of just three workers—is far too small to manage such a vast rural park. This is particularly frustrating for landowners, who have already granted the council permission to access their property, removing the administrative hurdles that previously slowed down eradication efforts.
The invasive plants are aggressive and diverse. Species like Ipomoea, Multicava, and Lycopodium have created thick mats of vegetation over 30 centimeters high, choking out native plants and encroaching on roads. Of particular concern is fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), which locals estimate has now covered 90% of some summit areas, severely damaging the landscape and soil health.
This crisis has led to a clash over environmental priorities. Residents have criticized conservation groups like the ACBC and ATAN for focusing their efforts on feral cat colonies in the area. While those groups are pushing local municipalities to manage cat populations, residents argue that the plant invasion is the far more urgent threat. They note that the cats in their hamlets are generally supervised, whereas the invasive plants are spreading rapidly and will soon become impossible to eradicate without immediate, large-scale intervention.
Frustrated by the lack of action, residents are now threatening to organize protests. Their demand is simple: the Cabildo must shift its focus to habitat recovery. They warn that continued inaction is leading to the irreversible destruction of one of the island’s most protected natural spaces.