- The experimental project will evaluate the response of both local and migratory birdlife
- The wetland is also designed as a space for research, environmental education, and public awareness
The site where the new habitat for birdlife is being created was visited this morning by the Cabildo's Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, the head of Fundación Moeve in the Canary Islands, Belén Machado, and the island's Director of the Environment, Pedro Millán.
The creation of this wetland goes beyond an environmental action, as it also seeks to raise public awareness of the ecological value of these ecosystems, which are fundamental for the hydrological balance and survival of numerous species, especially steppe, migratory, and wandering birds.
The project, which is being launched on an experimental basis, will analyze the response of birdlife in order to assess, based on the results obtained, the future expansion of the water surface, and the area's conditions. The aim is for it to become a tool for knowledge and awareness-raising that will enable the population to understand the importance of island wetlands and their role in biodiversity conservation.
The Los Eres Environmental Center will thereby establish itself as a strategic space for research, environmental education, and scientific dissemination, in line with the principles of the Ramsar Convention, which explicitly recognizes artificial wetlands as wetlands of importance, including them in its broad definition to promote their conservation alongside natural wetlands, recognizing their ecological and functional value, not only for waterfowl, but also as vital water resources that require rational use and protection.
As a fundamental part of the project, specialized bird monitoring will be carried out to assess the adaptation of the wetland and its use by species. This technical control will help with decision-making to adjust the conditions of the space and encourage the arrival and settlement of migratory birds, while ensuring that local biodiversity is preserved.
The Tenerife Island Council's Minister for the Environment emphasized that "the creation of this artificial wetland at the Los Eres Environmental Center is an important step in the Council's strategy to protect the island's biodiversity and advance adaptation to climate change. It is an innovative project that will allow us to generate scientific knowledge, promote the conservation of birdlife and, at the same time, raise public awareness of the value of wetlands as essential ecosystems.“
