SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 14 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife, through its department focusing on the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, is organising educational days centred on science within the Teide National Park.
Specifically, this initiative forms part of the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of this iconic park, with the aim of promoting science as a means to comprehend the protected surroundings and disseminating information about such an environmentally sensitive and valuable area.
These sessions, scheduled for the 27th and 28th of this month and accessible to the general public, will take place primarily in the conference room of the Telesforo Bravo Visitor Centre in La Orotava, which will serve as the focal point for scientific discussions over these two days in the Canary Islands.
During the sessions, researchers and experts from both national and international backgrounds will share insights into their ongoing projects and studies, aiming to spark public interest and enhance the engagement of citizens in understanding the work conducted in this World Heritage Site.
Blanca Pérez, the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, noted in a statement that it is “crucial” to hold a public event where researchers who have been advancing their projects in recent years can showcase their findings and achievements.
“This is fostering interest, and that is why we aim to engage citizens in the work these esteemed experts and researchers are undertaking in Teide National Park. We wish to advocate for science and information, and this two-day event at the Telesforo Bravo Visitor Centre presents an excellent opportunity, coinciding with the park’s 70th anniversary,” she stated.
Blanca Pérez also highlighted that “Teide itself serves as a scientific laboratory, attracting numerous scientists from across the globe who tackle various topics, including geology, astrophysics, air quality, climate change, the reconstruction of historical vegetation, biodiversity, and pollution, among others.”
She expressed her belief that “these are pertinent and current topics that may captivate the public, although unfortunately places are limited; thus, we encourage people to register as soon as possible.”
In addition, the insular director of Medio Natural, Pedro Millán, mentioned that this platform for disseminating science is just one of the initiatives designed to celebrate the park’s 70th anniversary, but “it is immensely vital to continue to bring science closer to the island’s inhabitants so they recognise that Teide is much more than merely a volcano.”
In alignment with this, he remarked that “it is a national park of utmost international significance and both Spanish researchers and scientists from around the world come to study it.”
PROGRAMME
The science dissemination days in Teide National Park for 2019-2023 will consist of two sessions from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On Wednesday the 27th, the presentation titled ‘Science in the Teide National Park 2019-202’ will take place, featuring a compilation and synthesis. The second session will concentrate on ‘Geodiversity and its educational significance for public engagement.’
This will lead into the documentary ‘Teide, the Sleeping Giant’; followed by presentations concerning ‘Monitoring the Teide volcano: a scientific challenge from Involcan’ and ‘Microplastics in the National Park.’
On Thursday, notable projects will be discussed, such as ‘Air Quality (pollutants and mist)’ and ‘Analysis of Climate Change and its Impact on the Park.’
Additionally, a study concerning Paleopollen and the restoration of past vegetation is planned, concluding the scientific conference with findings from the perimeter fences of retamar repopulation areas, presented in ‘Why are exclusion fences for herbivores necessary?’