The ambitious conservation initiative focused on restoring the distinctive, fragile landscapes atop the Famara summits on Lanzarote has achieved significant national acclaim, capturing the prestigious “Europa se siente verde” (Europe feels green) award. This high-profile recognition serves to underscore the vital importance of ecological projects that receive substantial backing from European structural funds, effectively positioning the Lanzarote endeavor as a leading model for subsequent conservation undertakings across the entirety of Spain. The project, meticulously developed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Planning of the Government of the Canary Islands, was specifically singled out and celebrated as one of the nation's premier initiatives supported by European financing.
The financial bedrock essential for executing this complex restoration was securely provided by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), operating within the defined framework of the PO FEDER Canarias 2014-2020 program. The total investment allocated by the fund for this specific purpose surpassed a substantial 1.7 million euros. These critical FEDER resources, which are fundamentally established to mitigate economic and developmental disparities among member regions of the European Union, were strategically channeled toward safeguarding the region's exceptionally delicate ecosystem. This significant financial commitment allowed for highly targeted interventions designed to protect the unique habitat, which functions as a critical biodiversity hotspot and is home to more than 350 documented species of endemic flora.
A core, tangible component of the practical work involved the large-scale cultivation and subsequent planting of ten thousand (10,000) seedlings of carefully selected native plants. This extensive effort was primarily geared towards rapidly restoring the natural habitat and simultaneously establishing a crucial, self-sustaining seed reservoir. This reservoir is intended to serve as a genetic resource bank for all future restoration activities planned across the island. The demonstrable success achieved by the project on Lanzarote vividly illustrates how focused, sustained action, when underpinned by a unified community vision and robust European financial backing, holds the power to fundamentally transform the local environment, effectively converting areas previously marked by ecological vulnerability into robust pillars of sustainable growth and resilience.
A defining and perhaps unexpected factor in the project's overall success was the remarkable breadth of widespread public engagement. Residents of Lanzarote and the neighboring island of La Graciosa displayed extraordinary solidarity throughout the process, actively mobilizing to support the initiative, particularly during the crucial final voting stage of the competition. This powerful collective action confirmed the deep-seated value the local population places on preserving their unique natural heritage for future generations. Such powerful moments of community unity emphasize the profound, symbiotic connection between the inhabitants and their territory, transforming the necessary stewardship of the land into a shared, communal responsibility rather than merely a governmental mandate.
Beyond the immediate planting efforts, the project also incorporated crucial scientific work, including the development and rigorous testing of novel methodological proposals specifically focused on restoring arid habitats within designated experimental plots. This specialized technical work, which formally commenced in 2020, was specifically designed with the critical objective of halting or reversing the accelerating processes of desertification affecting the region. The successful implementation phase required extensive collaboration among various key entities, including specialized scientific institutions, private sector companies providing technical expertise, and local educational centers, ensuring a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to tackling these complex environmental challenges.