Manitaga Fountain in Tuineje to Be Restored
The Cabildo of Fuerteventura and the Tuineje City Council met with the owners of the land where the Manitaga spring is located to present the recovery project prepared by the Cabildo’s Service of Works and Machinery. The project will be carried out under the “Fuerteventura, Beautiful by Nature” programme. After reviewing the details and the environmental benefits, the landowners gave their approval for the works.
“Manitaga is the first of several projects we have designed to recover natural springs of Fuerteventura and promote their ecosystems—both flora and wildlife—while also preserving our water culture,” explained Blas Acosta, Councillor for Works and Machinery.
The meeting also included Mayor Candelaria Umpiérrez and Heritage Councillor Jonathan Peña, who stressed the importance of coordinated action to restore such a significant ethnographic element for the municipality.
Project Scope
- Rehabilitation of the spring: Removal of accumulated earth and stones that have blocked the natural flow of water.
- Protection measures: Construction of a surrounding stone structure to prevent further soil intrusion.
- Environmental enhancements: Improvement of surrounding elements of interest.
The spring, once a natural water source, has been choked by debris, and the region’s scarce rainfall does not allow it to recover on its own.
Additional Works
- Access trail and wall repairs: About 290 m of existing walls will be rebuilt where collapsed, with the upper sections profiled using local stone.
- Visitor rest area: Development of a 140 m² resting zone at the top of the ravine, including clearing of stones, leveling of gullied sections, and removal of dry and low branches of the carob tree.
The spring is situated on the Manitaga mountain, accessible only on foot, which is why the project is being managed by the Cabildo’s own Gestion y Planeamiento Territorial y Medioambiental (Gesplan) unit.
Funding and Timeline
The “Fuerteventura, Beautiful by Nature” initiative allocates €4 million of self‑funding over a 15‑month period (2024‑2025). The investment will support roughly one hundred “proximity actions” aimed at:
- Conserving the natural environment
- Enhancing visitor experience
- Improving the quality of life for local residents.