The water problem on Tenerife - Permaculture Food Forest - Episode 1

[@jonayz8655]

Well this guy made his best efforts but he is a bit clueless about how the water supply works in the Canaries. First of all, if the snow in el Teide was the main water source in Tenerife, the island would be a desert since long ago. No, the phreatic layers of the island refill mainly due to rainwater, but also the melting of snow and even fog condensation in the lush forests of the island are important sources that permit the refill of the inner phreatic reservoirs of Tenerife. Or at least it used to be so up until a while ago, because rain is becoming more scarce year after year and population and tourists don't cease to increase. Those phreatic reservoirs are not only our only watering water for agriculture but also our only drinking water. Those tunnels that we call "galerias" are private infraestructures built many years ago by private entrepeneurs with their own money, so that's why water is private in Tenerife. In the past, those tunnels (there are 800+ all across the island) used to account for over the 60% of the overal water supply. Nowadays that percentage is much shorter, and that water is mixed with desalinized water for the drinking water supply. The use of sewage regenerated water for agriculture and public gardens is increasing as well. The waterfalls this guy talks about can still be seen any year if there's rain enough as the ravines are the natural scape routes for rain water to the sea, equivalent to the European rivers. There are no rivers in the Canary Islands. Those phreatic layers would refill again if the consumption of water was reduced and it would rain more but actually consumption increases year after year as 950,000+ people live in Tenerife and 5,000,000+ tourists come to visit us every year. Those tourists want to play golf in ever green golf courts and swim in hundreds of swimmingpools across the island. That creates and ever increasing consumption of water. Mass tourism is literally draining our natural resources. The soil is completely volcanic, slightly acid (7 pH) and very fertile, but it takes water. it is very porous and that permits the replenishment of the underground phreatic reservoirs, given that the consumption doesn't exceed the water inputs. That guy could collect water from the rain but prefers to pay a share of those tunnels he dislikes so much. I gues it must be cheaper and provides more water.

[@greenbote]

Wowww...amazing view, like last scene in oblivion movie

[@foodforestinstitute]

Yeah, beautiful!

[@reinadelmar11]

The killing of the waterfalls and springs is the most twisted thing I've heard in a while. Gorgeous place though!

[@estebancorral5151]

Volcanic rock has the greatest potential for fertile soil simply because the spectrum of elements available. David is correct in saying the lava rock is a good medium for growing microorganisms, but failed to state that its due to it porosity which to microorganisms favor. Just from the waste of the banana plantation you could rehydrate the whole island. I would grow mushrooms with some of that waste. David is smart in using vermiculture, but he needs to upscale his production of worm castings. The canals that are already been hewn out, but long ago not in use, make for perfect worm beds. Just fill in those canals with shredded mulch, moisten with household grey water and let the worms do their work. After twelve months put in a diversity of plants in the worm beds.

[@Rerum_Novarum]

I think I've visited this food forest before. Is it near the village of Los Silos?

[@foodforestinstitute]

Yes, nearby!

[@jimklerkx5092]

Hi louis! Is it possible to get in touch with the people from the foodforrest in Tenerife? We would love to meet new enthousiastic people and do up inspiration for an food forrest in Haarlem! We are on holidays in Tenerife anyway and would love to get an tour or maube even help out an hand!

[@Homs86]

hey, is the water problem in any way reversible? like is it possible to fill the tunnels and slowly fill up the reservoir inside the mountain? or is it done and done?

[@foodforestinstitute]

Most problems are reversible, we have to find a balance in taking from the ecosystem and leaving enough so the ecosystem can keep existing 🙂

[@melvinhodge7580]

🤗 P r o m o s m!!!