Santa Cruz de Tenerife Approves €50 Million Green Infrastructure Plan to Boost Urban Biodiversity

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has given initial approval to the Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plan (PIVB). This ten-year roadmap, developed by the consultancy firm Dasotec, aims to reshape how the capital city grows. The project plans to invest over 50 million euros to increase the city’s tree canopy from 19% to 30%.

While the city currently meets World Health Organization standards—offering 23 square meters of green space per person and one tree for every two residents—the plan highlights serious concerns. Many trees are in poor health, particularly the city’s Indian laurels, which are suffering from a fungal infection. Additionally, nearly 70% of the city’s green areas have impermeable soil, which prevents the ground from absorbing water and limits the city's ability to adapt to climate change.

The strategy includes 125 specific actions, such as creating green corridors, building therapeutic gardens, and naturalizing the Rambla and the San Andrés highway. Experts estimate that the environmental benefits of these changes, such as air purification and carbon storage, are worth 128 million euros. However, the plan also notes the threat posed by invasive species, which endanger the 735 native plant and animal species found in the area.

To fund this project, the city will use a mix of local, regional, national, and European public money, alongside private investment. The plan also calls for a new approach to environmental management. Instead of handling projects in isolation, the city aims to work closely with scientists and academics to create a long-term maintenance system. This will focus on improving soil health and increasing green spaces, particularly in neighborhoods like Centro-Ifara that currently lack them.