Protect Buen Paso's Palm Grove from Invasive Species

Regional parliamentarian Natalia Évora stresses the urgent need to implement protection measures to stop the spread of Diocalandra frumenti.

Political Intervention

On Friday, Natalia Évora Soto, deputy of the Canarian Nationalist Parliamentary Group, addressed the Ecological Transition Commission to inquire about actions taken to control the impact of the Diocalandra frumenti outbreak in Fuerteventura. She urged the regional minister to adopt specific measures to curb the pest.

Significance of the Buen Paso Palm Grove

• Located beneath the Las Peñitas ravine in Betancuria, the grove is a historic, ecological, and genetic treasure.
• It is considered the last pure stand of the Canarian palm (Phoenix canariensis) on the island and the genetic source of the species later spread to the rest of the archipelago.

Current Threat

The grove is now afflicted by Diocalandra frumenti, a beetle that parasitizes native palm specimens, causing lethal diseases.

“The Canarian palm is the most representative vegetal symbol of the islands and a key element of the landscape, biodiversity, and cultural identity of the archipelago,” — Natalia Évora.

Factors Exacerbating the Crisis

• Traditional land management (gaviotas, irrigation channels, and ravines) historically maximized rainfall, enriched soils, and recharged aquifers.
• Progressive abandonment of agriculture, combined with increasingly extreme climate change effects—prolonged droughts and unusually high year‑round temperatures—has placed majorero palm groves under severe water stress, compromising their resilience and regeneration.

Historical Context of Pest Outbreaks

• In 2005, the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) threatened the Canarian palms but was eradicated through coordinated administrative action.
• The current beetle outbreak mirrors that crisis, leading to rapid deterioration of the groves.

Institutional Actions

• The Cabildo of Fuerteventura is actively implementing measures to halt the pest’s proliferation.
• The regional minister has agreed to accept an amendment proposed by the Canarian Nationalist Group to allocate a specific budget line for eradicating Diocalandra frumenti in Fuerteventura.

Commitments from the Regional Minister

• Continue collaboration and ongoing work meetings with the island’s governing body to monitor the situation, which already records over 1,000 affected palms across the island.
• Acknowledge the Cabildo’s efforts and announce that the public company GMR will begin control operations in 2026.
• Accelerate the finalization of a collaboration agreement between the two institutions aimed at eradicating Diocalandra frumenti in the Maxorata area.

“The public must avoid pruning palms without technical supervision, as this practice facilitates the spread of the infestation. For such work, it is essential to rely on specialized professionals,” — Regional Minister Mariano Hernández Zapata.

Key Takeaways

• Immediate, coordinated action is required to protect the last pure Canarian palm stand on Fuerteventura.
• Adequate funding, expert intervention, and public awareness are critical to halt the invasive beetle’s advance and preserve the island’s natural and cultural heritage.