Canary Islands municipal and forest plans

In late July 2026 the Canary Islands took several coordinated steps to modernize local and regional risk‑management frameworks. On 26 July, the council of Los Realejos on Tenerife approved a Municipal Emergency Plan that, for the first time, explicitly addresses volcanic eruption hazards, a draft prepared with the University of La Laguna’s disaster‑risk research unit. The plan will be voted on by the council on 30 July and then forwarded to the regional government for ratification, followed by training for emergency responders. The same day, the municipality of Pájara on Fuerteventura unanimously adopted its own emergency plan, emphasizing coordination with police and other security forces to enable independent emergency handling for its 20,000 residents.

Two days later, on 28 July, the Canary Islands government unveiled a new Forest Plan that replaces the 1999 version and sets out a 21‑year strategy for the archipelago. The plan prioritises fire prevention, climate‑change adaptation and the socioeconomic importance of the forest sector, providing strategic guidance while preserving existing legislation. This initiative complements the earlier municipal emergency measures, together reinforcing the region’s preparedness for natural hazards and its commitment to sustainable land‑management.

Both actions illustrate a broader effort by regional authorities to integrate disaster risk reduction and environmental stewardship into long‑term planning for the Canary Islands.