Tenerife Overhauls Termite Containment Strategy in Tacoronte Following Oversight Failures
The Tenerife Island Council has launched a new containment strategy in Tacoronte to address the spread of Reticulitermes flavipes termites following the failure of previous waste management protocols at the La Caridad site.
Efforts to manage the Reticulitermes flavipes termite infestation in Tacoronte have entered a new phase of institutional reform. Following a meeting between the Tenerife Island Council and the Association of Those Affected by Subterranean Termites, the local government has acknowledged that previous containment efforts at the La Caridad site were insufficient. This admission marks a significant shift in the strategy to control a pest that poses a serious threat to the local ecosystem due to its ability to spread through the soil.
The current crisis stems from a major oversight: 7,000 cubic meters of plant waste were stored in a landfill without proper waterproofing. Because there was no physical barrier to separate the infested material from the ground, the risk of the termites spreading increased significantly. Seprona is now inspecting the site to assess the impact of these failures. Local residents have criticized the lack of basic preventive measures, such as fencing and sealing the area, arguing that the Island Council and its contracted maintenance companies should have acted with much greater care.
To address these environmental risks, officials have established a new action plan. This includes re-evaluating the site’s perimeter and installing new bait stations in previously unprotected areas to strengthen the quarantine zone. Additionally, the site is being upgraded with a covered concrete slab. Starting July 1, a new protocol will begin, involving mechanical chipping, the application of biocides, and a controlled fermentation process before the waste is moved to the Environmental Center.
Blanca Pérez, the Councilor for the Natural Environment, along with technical experts and representatives from Tragsatec, has promised to keep residents informed. The immediate goal is to correct the administrative inaction that left thousands of cubic meters of infested wood exposed, which has caused significant public concern. Moving forward, the success of these new measures will be the primary test of the authorities' ability to manage a pest that requires both technical precision and better cooperation between government agencies.