Tenerife and La Palma Unite to Bid for National Volcanology Center

Tenerife and La Palma have officially joined forces to bid for the headquarters of the new National Volcanology Center (CNV).

The islands' governments have submitted a joint proposal to the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, suggesting a shared headquarters. La Palma would host the main center, with a sub-headquarters located in Tenerife.

Rosa Dávila, president of Tenerife's governing body, said it was "a great day for the Canary Islands" and expressed her pride in the joint bid. She emphasized the desire to create a top-tier, decentralized science and volcanology hub in the Canary Islands, rather than concentrating everything in Madrid.

Dávila believes the CNV should be a "world reference" and praised the collaborative effort to create the strongest possible proposal. She highlighted the importance of prioritizing the Canary Islands' interests to advance scientific understanding and improve the prediction and prevention of volcanic events.

Sergio Rodríguez, president of La Palma's governing body, noted that this bid represents "a further step" towards a long-term goal. He emphasized the collaborative spirit between the islands, contrasting it with those who try to create division. He stated that having the national center in the Canary Islands is what truly matters.

Rodríguez pointed out that La Palma is "still experiencing a traumatic process" following the recent eruption, while Tenerife is experiencing similar challenges to those La Palma faced in 2017, making both islands suitable locations for the center. He also highlighted La Palma's ongoing efforts to attract scientific institutions.

The Spanish Council of Ministers initiated the process to determine the location of the new center on September 2, 2025.

The CNV, authorized by Law 31/2022, will coordinate research, prediction, and mitigation efforts related to volcanic activity in Spain.

The joint proposal is based on scientific, technical, and social factors.

The 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption highlighted the need for a dedicated volcanology center, positioning La Palma as a natural focal point. Tenerife offers a well-established scientific and academic environment with over 25 years of volcanic research. Key institutions include the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan), the University of La Laguna, and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER). The island also boasts advanced infrastructure such as geochemistry laboratories, sophisticated volcanic monitoring equipment, and the Teide-HPC supercomputer.