26 Mar La Palma Reconstruction – February 2026
La Palma’s Reconstruction: February 2026 Update
News roundup from across La Palma regarding science occurring in La Palma, reconstruction efforts, aid provided to residents and industries, and other relevant news. Links to source articles are hyperlinked in taglines for each article.
Sources for all reconstruction updates: La Palma Ahora, Cabildo de La Palma, El Time, ABC España, El Valle de Aridane, El Dia, Mirame, Planeta Canario, Canarias 7, El Diario, National Geographic, El Pais, El Apurón, Diario La Palma
Reconstruction
- New protected areas by the volcano – A draft bill has been presented to expand the Cumbre Vieja National Park, to include 309.5 hectares of lava flows, cones, and lava deltas from the 2021 eruption, to protected their natural and geological value.
- Debate over protected areas of the volcano – There are ongoing debates over the Canary Island Government’s designation of the 2021 volcanic cone and parts of the lava flows as protected areas. One of the issues is the lack of transparency; those affected whose private land is under the protected areas have not been consulted or informed about any expropriation payments. The PSOE party have demanded all the files relating to the protection are released.
- New estimate for reconstruction costs – A new estimate for the cost of recovering the agricultural sector in the Aridane valley, including relevant infrastructure, has been estimated at €224 million. The Canary Islands Government is also considering launching an aid program to supplement the €44.06 per square metre that farms have received for reconstruction.
- Industrialised housing considered for those affected – The President of the Cabildo de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, has met with construction companies to explore the possible implementation of industrialised, or pre-fabricated housing on La Palma, to accelerate the recovery of housing on the island for those affected.
Neighborhood meetings to design the roundabouts for the new road between La Laguna and Las Norias. El Time (2026)
- Cemetery reconstruction – Progress continues on the reconstruction of the Cemetery in Las Manchas, which was partially destroyed during the eruption. The project has a budget of €1.2 million, and should be finished in the coming months.
- Environmental group brands LP-2 works illegal – The environmental group La Centinela have argued the LP-2 reconstruction does not have legal coverage, as the Government of the Canary Islands has not responded to their appeal against the project, which according to their interpretation of the law should lead to the suspension of the project.
- Participatory process for roundabout designs – The Cabildo have opened the participatory process for the public to vote from 32 possible designs for monuments to be installed on roundabouts on the La Laguna – Las Norias road. The 32 designs were submitted during an earlier phase of consultation following neighbourhood meetings.
- Recycling centre reconstruction – A tender for a new recycling centre in Los Llanos has been put out, worth €375,000, to replace one destroyed in the eruption.
Aid
- Spanish Government advances infrastructure recovery funds – The Government of Spain has advanced €53 million in funds for infrastructure recovery on La Palma, with €18 million going to the Cabildo, and €35 million going to the three municipalities.
- Debate over 25% financing from Canary Islands Government – There have been demands that the Government of the Canary Islands finance 25% of the infrastructural recovery as promised. The Spanish Government has paid more than €53 million for infrastructure reconstruction in El Paso, Tazacorte and Los Llanos, but the Canary Islands Government is yet to contribute towards these costs.
- €150,000 for fishing recovery – The Cabildo de La Palma has met with representatives of a Fishermen’s Association following the allocation of €150,000 in aid to disrupted ship owners. Whilst the ocean continues to recover, many of the fishing grounds are still heavily degraded relative to before the eruption.
- 60% income tax reduction – Complaints have been made by the Mayor of Los Llanos about the Spanish Government’s approach to implementing the 60% income tax reduction for La Palma to aid economic recovery after the eruption. Despite being names in the Canary Agenda up until 2027, this hasn’t been confirmed, and the reduction for 2025 was only activated in December.
- Extension of aid for farmers – The POSEI 2026 program, approved by the European Commission, has been modified for 2026, with a budget of €244 million for agricultural aid across the Canary Islands. As part of this, aid has been extended for producers impacted by the eruption in La Palma until 2027. The reconstruction commissioner Héctor Izquierdo recently met with recovering banana farmers to see the situation on the ground.
- Clarification for aid and educational scholarships – A measure has been renewed to ensure that aid received by students will not be considered income for the granting of scholarships for sport, training and education, which help families to cover the cost of these courses.
Map of the area affected by the 2021 eruption showing proposed new protected areas (Yellow and Green) to form part of the Cumbre Vieja National Park. Source: Government of the Canary Islands.
Science
- €1.3 million for security and emergencies – €1.3 million has been allocated to security and emergencies in the 2026 General Budget of the Cabildo de La Palma. Within this, €100,000 has been allocated to INVOLCAN for maintaining its volcanic monitoring network, and €150,000 towards the maintenance of the exclusion zones around the cone and lava flows from 2021.
- Action plan against volcanic risk is participatory – The Volcanic Risk Action Plan, being developed by the Cabildo, has been made available for public review, allowing citizens to submit suggestions for the text before its final approval. The participatory process is open until the 25th
- Images show progression of marine recovery – New underwater images have been shared by a researcher at the Marine Biology research group at the University of La Laguna, showing the marine recovery on three underwater lava flows, from the San Antonio (1677), Teneguía (1971), and Tajogaite (2021) eruptions.
- Access to more houses in Puerto Naos – Access to two more houses in La Bombilla and one more in Puerto Naos have been granted due to reduced CO2 Currently, 1,169 homes have been made safe for access, with 1,037 families having completed the requirements to allow access.
The recovery of wildlife on lava flows from 1971 (left), 1677 (right), and 2021 (bottom). Photo credit: Carlos Sangil.
Other updates
- Song about La Palma on talent show – La Palma singer-songwriter Dani Kleyein appeared on the Got Talent TV show to perform his debut song ‘19’, about his experiences of being affected by the 2021 eruption on La Palma, receiving a ‘Yes’ from all judges.
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