- Both entities have completed the first phase of expanding the Wolfredo Wildpret Botanical Garden Nursery
- The goal is to reforest the areas affected by the major 2023 wildfire
Specifically, thanks to Fundación Moeve, an additional 200 square meters have been added near the El Portillo Visitor Center to increase the production of various plant species for reforestation efforts. The nursery expansion has included several construction projects, such as creating an access path, leveling the selected area, building stone walls, installing tables for plant production, setting up an irrigation network, and erecting a perimeter fence around the new space.
The primary plant species cultivated by specialized technicians include adenocarpus, Canary cedar, helianthemum juliae, Teide violet, and retama. These are part of the program focusing on 200 cataloged species of high environmental value produced in the nursery.
Increased production
The Minister for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, emphasized that “we are making a significant effort, thanks also to Fundación Moeve, which has contributed to the expansion of this nursery. This allows us to double our production capacity, enabling us not only to meet the regular demands of planting initiatives in Teide National Park but also to address the growing needs arising from the impact of the wildfire and the cedar reforestation project in the park. The foundation also collaborates with us on other projects that are crucial for the reforestation and repopulation of our natural areas, as well as for promoting these efforts as a shared resource that must be protected.”
Meanwhile, the head of Fundación Moeve in the Canary Islands, Belén Machado, stated, "it is a great satisfaction for our organization to contribute to the Island Council of Tenerife, the island, and all its citizens in preserving Teide National Park. After the fires that occurred in the summer of 2023, it became urgent to have plants available for reforesting this natural area, and we responded to the request for support by collaborating on the expansion of the Teide nursery.”
Growth cycles
The Wolfredo Wilpret Botanical Garden spans an area of over 40,000 square meters, where the entire plant lifecycle takes place: from seed selection, growth in greenhouses and climate conditioning zones, to controlled and protected planting, and finally the definitive planting once the plants reach the necessary size for survival.
The Island Council's endemic plant nurseries are essential for the reforestation of natural areas, as they play a key role in preserving local biodiversity and restoring specific ecosystems. By cultivating and planting endemic species, these efforts strengthen natural populations, protect endangered species, and promote the recovery of degraded habitats, such as those impacted by the 2023 wildfire. This effort significantly contributes to environmental conservation and ecological balance.
In line with the protection of high-mountain ecosystems, fencing has also been installed in certain areas of Teide National Park to ensure and accelerate the recovery of flora while preventing herbivores that inhabit the park, such as rabbits and mouflons, from causing damage. Once the plants have matured and are strong enough, the fencing will be removed, as the vegetation will then be capable of withstanding the impact of the herbivores.
