Tenerife Unveils New Climate-Resilient Strategy to Combat Forest Fires
Tenerife’s Island Council has unveiled a new year-round forest fire prevention strategy that prioritizes the urban-forest interface and integrates climate-adaptive land management ahead of its 2026 implementation.
Tenerife is changing how it manages its natural spaces to better handle the challenges of a changing climate. Following a recent meeting of the Island Council, officials approved a new annual strategy designed to protect the island’s forests. This plan meets national legal requirements and aims to ensure a professional, year-round response to fire risks.
The new strategy goes beyond basic legal compliance by incorporating a technical assessment of how rising temperatures, drought, and frequent heat waves are affecting the island’s landscape and ecology. A primary focus is the "urban-forest interface"—the areas where residential neighborhoods meet natural environments. These zones are considered the most vulnerable, making the protection of people and infrastructure the top priority.
The plan continues to rely on the Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigades (BRIFOR) as its core team, supported by more intensive forest management. This includes maintaining trails, improving water access, creating firebreaks, and using controlled burns to manage vegetation. The council also plans to encourage livestock grazing as a way to naturally reduce fire fuel, linking local farming to the health of the ecosystem.
The operation will be flexible, adjusting to weather alerts—particularly during periods of low humidity or high winds—and coordinating resources across different government agencies. Beyond technical measures, the Island Council is emphasizing the need for public education to help prevent small fires caused by human negligence.
The proposed plan, which maps the island based on fire risk levels, is now open for public review for twenty working days. During this time, residents and organizations can submit feedback before the document is finalized to serve as the official roadmap for forest protection in 2026.