A force for environmental change has been working tirelessly for a quarter of a century right at the heart of the Canary Islands. The Foresta Foundation, a private non-profit organisation, has a noble mission: to reclaim the forests of the Canary Islands.

Since its creation in 1998, the foundation has led a visionary effort to combat the depletion of forests in Gran Canaria. Aware of the vital importance of these ecosystems for environmental balance and biodiversity, they have promoted a series of transformative initiatives to achieve effective recovery. Their commitment to conservation and sustainability has left a lasting mark on the history of the fight for a greener future.

Foresta’s path has been a journey full of emotions and sentiments during its years of fighting for reforestation in the Canary Islands. Sergio Armas shares a moving experience in Barranco del Andén, where, in its early years, together with journalists and other collaborators, they sowed the seeds of change.

Years later, he returned to the place that had once witnessed the birth of young trees. When he arrived, he was overcome with surprise and emotion to find those trees, once just small saplings, had transformed into majestic four-metre tall trees. He was even able to correctly identify the ones he had planted himself, including robust madroño, or arbutus, trees, rare among other species. There were only four specimens, but enough to fill him with gratitude and satisfaction. In the knowledge that his work had lasted the test of time, contributing to the island’s well-being and preserving its natural heritage, it was a moment that made the hairs on his neck stand up and served as a reminder of the importance of sustained effort.

In experiences like these, the sense of responsibility that Foresta's members share really comes to the fore. Their work is more than just a job; it is a call for the preservation of the island, a mission with social and environmental impact. Every tree planted, every space recovered, is a token of love and respect for the natural heritage of the Canary Islands.

The Foresta Foundation faces crucial challenges, one of the most urgent being the fight against desertification. The effects of climate change have aggravated drought and soil erosion in the Canary archipelago, endangering the survival of its unique ecosystems.

Of all the islands, Gran Canaria has been one of the territories most affected by deforestation. "In the past, the island had 60% of its surface area covered by forests, a figure that has plummeted to just 3% in the last 80 years", says Sergio Armas, manager of Foresta.

Aware of this threat, recovery has become a priority for the Foundation. Its focus is on planting trees to try to restore, as far as possible, what deforestation has taken away. However, this task goes beyond simply planting trees; it involves creating a social fabric of awareness and commitment to ensure the long-term protection and care of these new forests.

Forest fires are also a major challenge facing the population of Gran Canaria. However, the combination of reforestation and prevention has proven to be an effective strategy to mitigate their impact. In this scenario, the efforts of Foresta and the Canarian society have been significant in protecting the natural heritage of Gran Canaria.

Following the great fire of 2019, the population showed a growing concern for the state of forests and natural heritage, becoming actively involved in initiatives such as Foresta's initiative to recover burnt down areas. In response to this demand, a massive volunteer scheme was organised and, in just two months more than 2,500 people were mobilised to plant around 7,500 trees in weekend activities.

The prevention work carried out by the foundation is also noteworthy. During the months suitable for reforestation, Foresta works on planting trees in areas selected according to weather patterns and rainfall conditions. In this task, it is essential to avoid the introduction of highly flammable species, such as heathers, given their propensity to burn easily. Instead, Foresta decided to go for fire-resistant trees, such as fayas, as they play a crucial role as green barriers against advancing flames.

The rest of the year, however, they are mainly engaged in clearing and clearing forest areas. This practice allows them to keep the land free of brush and undergrowth, which helps to prevent the rapid spread of fire should one occur.

In its quest for an efficient and sustainable approach, Foresta has adopted a new perspective on their tree planting process: the organisation focuses on the quality and successful growth of each tree they plant. To achieve this, they have implemented a strategy that involves planting a more select number of trees, with an emphasis on ensuring that each tree receives adequate irrigation during the crucial first year of growth. To this end, they ensure that the areas are kept clean to facilitate the watering of the planted trees, which also indirectly contributes to fire prevention.

Knowing the importance of joint action, the Foresta Foundation has expanded its scope of action in both public and private sectors. Although they initially focused on reforesting public areas, they realised that this strategy was not enough to face the challenge of deforestation, as 85% of the land is privately owned.

Reforestation is not a task that can only be carried out by public administrations or the Foresta Foundation. It is a collective task in which the whole of society must be involved. "Companies, volunteers and government bodies must join forces to achieve the common goal of recovering the island's forest mass". Raising public awareness of the importance of conserving this unique natural heritage is essential to encourage support and active participation.

"Gran Canaria is home to an impressive and unique biodiversity on the planet. It is among the 14 regions with the greatest wealth of species". The Foresta Foundation understands the importance of knowing and valuing this biodiversity. The fact that the population enjoys nature and connects with the natural environment can generate greater awareness and care for this invaluable natural heritage.

"It is encouraging to note that, following the fires that have affected the island, awareness of the importance of natural heritage and forest restoration has increased. This has facilitated reconciliation and collaboration with private landowners, who are now more willing to contribute to the reforestation and protection of their land.

Over the years, Foresta has managed to establish public and private alliances, both nationally and internationally.

In the private sector, the synergy with the tourism sector has been particularly significant, as tourists aware of the environmental impact of their trips find that supporting reforestation projects during their stay on the islands is an attractive proposition. In this regard, Foresta is signing agreements with national and international tour operators to carry out reforestation projects in Gran Canaria. "Through these projects, when tourists come to the destination, they know that their carbon footprint generated by the air travel is compensated", says Armas.

Collaboration with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, is essential in the public sector to ensure that reforestation and prevention activities are carried out in an organised and responsible manner. This means taking into account the peculiarities of the territory of the Canary Islands and the specific needs of each area.

The local population in the Canaries also plays an important role in Foresta's work. The foundation offers two main types of volunteering, each with specific activities. The first is reforestation, which takes place from October to March, where users actively participate in the planting of trees and species suitable for the area. The second type is maintenance, which takes place from April to September and focuses on maintenance and prevention tasks.

These volunteer programmes not only enable the active participation of the community in reforestation and forestry care. They also raise awareness of the importance of conserving the natural heritage and biodiversity of the Canary Islands.

Throughout its 25 years of existence, Foresta has managed to measure and quantify the positive impact it has had on Canarian society. In total, they have carried out the reforestation of approximately 726 hectares, which is equivalent to planting more than 560,000 trees.

It is not just about planting trees, however, it is also the impact they have on the environment. They have been able to infiltrate around 14 million litres of water into the subsoil thanks to all the planting. The reforestation work has contributed to the improvement of water retention in the soil and the refilling of aquifers, a fundamental aspect in the Canary Islands, where water is a scarce and valuable resource.

The impact of the foundation is also reflected in the evolution of the awareness and participation of Canarian society. Over time, the population has shown a greater concern and commitment to the protection and recovery of the natural heritage. Prior to this, reforestation activities did not have large numbers of participants, but nowadays, these initiatives are seen as a necessity and a way to make a positive contribution to the region.

Despite the economic and environmental challenges, Foresta continues with its reforestation work, aware that the recovery of the natural heritage is crucial for the protection of the environment and the sustainability of Gran Canaria.

Foresta Foundation is an inspiring example of how small actions can make a difference. Reforestation is not just about planting trees, but about sowing hope and responsibility in society. With each tree that grows, the foundation becomes a beacon of change, reminding us that we can all play a role in protecting the island we call home.