The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the Canary, La Palma Reserve of the Biosphere Foundation have signed a document agreeing on actions to be taken in prevention, early warning and rapid response to exotic invading species on the Island of La Palma, a World Biosphere Reserve.
This morning the Director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet, and the President of the Cabildo of La Palma, together with the Executive Director of the Canary, La Palma Reserve of the Biosphere Foundation, have signed a document which commits both organizations to work together to achieve this objective.
The agreement has the aim of setting up a collaborative framework to localize, identify, analyze, and control or erradicate the new foci or populations of exotic invading species, in order to avoid their becoming permanente, using early detection and rapid action.
The President of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, says that this signing “marks a new commitment which we are taking on, together with the IAC, in order to protect our territory and to keep making constructive advances for the Island of La Palma, incorporating all possible knowledge to overcome the problems which may threaten it."
The Director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet explained that this agreement “strengthens even further the relations between the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and the people of La Palma, by promoting the environment of the island as well as the protection of its skies, and all of its natural surroundings. La Palma is known world-wide for the excellence of its skies, but also as an example of conservation and sustainability, in which we will continue to work together."
The Executive Director of the Canary, La Palma Reserve of the Biosphere Foundation, Alfonso Montes de Oca, stated that “this is a day which should make us happy because it shows collaboration between administrations at the highest level, and is a proof of the new impetus which the Cabildo Insular of La Palma is giving to the protection of the environment and of biodiversity.”
The two organizations are committed to cooperate in the establishment and promotion of joint initiatives for the management of exotic invading species, to interchange experience and knowledge between the scientific community, environmental managers, and citizens in general, to develop a strategy of communication and enhancing sensitivity about these problems, to facilitate access to their installations for research studies, tracking, and following of exotic invading species, and to share information and resources for early warning and prevention.
This agreement, which is valid for four years, is within the framework of the commitment of both institutions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the European Strategy 2020, which seek to protect biodiversity and services for ecosystems.
The fight against exotic invading species is fundamental to preserve the natural heritage of the Island of La Palma, a territory declared World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
