Fallen Dragon Tree in La Laguna Sparks New Biodiversity Research Project
Researchers at the Tenerife Natural Products Library are analyzing the remains of a collapsed dragon tree in La Laguna to catalog its chemical compounds for potential medical and industrial applications.
The recent collapse of a dragon tree in La Laguna’s Plaza de la Catedral has sparked an unexpected scientific project. The remains of the tree are being preserved by the Tenerife Natural Products Library (LiPNaT), a research platform run by the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC) and funded by the local Cabildo.
Launched this year, the project aims to catalog the island’s biodiversity by building a systematic archive of natural chemical compounds. Adding material from the Dracaena drago—an iconic, protected species that is rarely available for laboratory study—is a major step forward for the team. By analyzing the tree’s genetics and chemical makeup, researchers hope to identify bioactive molecules that could eventually be used in medicine or high-value industrial processes.
The Cabildo’s Innovation, Research and Development department noted that this effort is about turning a loss of local heritage into a chance to gain new knowledge. The LiPNaT project aims to bridge the gap between the Canary Islands' botanical wealth and the business sector, providing scientists and companies with access to resources that might otherwise go unstudied.
This initiative comes at a time of growing interest in "bioprospecting" within island ecosystems, where unique, endemic species offer a wealth of scientific potential. By systematically documenting local flora, the IPNA-CSIC hopes to create a lasting repository that preserves knowledge of Tenerife’s natural resources, ensuring that the island’s biological legacy can contribute to future technological innovation.