El Cabildo comienza un estudio sobre la situación de la palmera canaria en Fuerteventura

The Cabildo initiates a study on the situation of the Canary Island date palm in Fuerteventura

Thursday, May 29, 2025.-

The Cabildo de Fuerteventura, through the Department of the Environment, has initiated a diagnostic study of the situation of the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) on the island, affected by the species Diocalandrafrumenti, declared a pest in the Canary Islands since 2007.

As pointed out by the area councilor, Carlos Rodríguez, «any action that supports the conservation of the species is essential in Fuerteventura.» There are around 86,000 date palms on the island, with the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) being the most affected by this insect.

For this reason, the Cabildo is conducting this study, which has been commissioned to the public company Gestión del Medio Rural (GMR Canarias), with the aim of determining the extent of the damage and establishing the economic amount for its recovery, which will allow the initiation of future action plans alongside the Government of the Canary Islands.

Known as the four-spot beetle, the Diolacandrafrumenti poses a serious threat to the Canary Island date palm, endemic to the islands and of high botanical, scientific, ecological, cultural, and landscape value in Fuerteventura. Some of the oldest palm groves in the Canary Islands are preserved on the island, such as the palm grove of Barranco del Buen Paso, the last stronghold of the Canary Island date palm in Fuerteventura.

Currently, the Cabildo is detecting the extent of the disease and the damage it causes when transported. The larval stage of the insect is the cause of the damage and develops all its activity inside the leaves, causing premature drying. The dispersion at medium and long distances is favored by the movement of infested plant material. For this reason, the Department of the Environment recommends avoiding the pruning of this species, except in situations of justified necessity, in order to minimize the risk of infestation. In addition, individuals who detect such conditions in date palms should contact companies accredited by the Directorate General of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands.

It is recommended to follow the pruning conditions established by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, through the order of October 29, 2007: