Tenerife Expands Forest Waste Program to Boost Fire Safety and Support Farmers
Tenerife’s Cabildo is distributing free wood chips processed from forest clearing to local farmers as part of a circular economy initiative to reduce wildfire risks and support ecological restoration.
Managing forest waste has become a top priority in Tenerife following last year’s devastating wildfires. To address this, the island’s Council (Cabildo) is extending a program that provides free wood chips to the agricultural and livestock sectors, aiming to improve forest safety while supporting local farmers.
So far, the initiative has processed 17,520 cubic meters of wood, requiring 1,177 truckloads to transport. Much of this material comes from clearing radiata pine plantations. Removing this debris is essential, as leaving it in the forest creates a fire hazard and encourages the spread of tree diseases.
This distribution program is the final step in a broader effort to manage forest biomass, which previously involved public tenders and private transfers. Key agricultural groups—including COAG-Canarias, Asaga Canarias, PALCA, the Association of Cheese Producers, and livestock health groups like Ovican and Bovino Lechero—have already received supplies.
This project is part of a circular economy model that bridges the gap between environmental protection and the primary sector. It also supports the ongoing ecological restoration of areas burned in 2023. As part of this recovery, the Cabildo is replacing pine plantations with native species like "monteverde" to help restore the island’s natural resilience and reduce the risk of future fires.