Santa Cruz de Tenerife Unveils Ambitious 10-Year Green Infrastructure Plan

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set for a major transformation. The City Council has unveiled its new Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plan (PIVB), a ten-year roadmap designed to reshape the city’s landscape. Now heading to public consultation, the plan marks a shift away from traditional urban planning, focusing instead on climate resilience and weaving nature directly into the city’s structure.

As the first plan of its kind in the Canary Islands, it includes 125 specific measures. A key goal is to increase the city’s tree canopy by 30% by reclaiming abandoned lots and restoring degraded areas. Led by the Public Services department, the strategy aims to create an "ecological network" that connects urban centers with nearby ravines and natural spaces, allowing local ecosystems to thrive.

The plan goes beyond just planting trees. It proposes new ways to use public space, including therapeutic gardens, community vegetable patches, and "climate shelters" to help residents cope with heat. It also encourages the use of green roofs and walls on buildings. Major infrastructure projects are also in the works, such as naturalizing the Rambla to improve drainage and turning the San Andrés highway into a green corridor that provides better access to the coast.

Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez stated that the plan is essential for preparing the capital for future environmental challenges. Carlos Tarife, the councilor in charge, defended the plan’s technical rigor, noting that it prioritizes fairness by focusing on neighborhoods that currently lack green space. Through 65 distinct lines of action, Santa Cruz aims to set a new national standard for urban greenery and fundamentally change how residents interact with their daily environment.