The area of Puertito de Adeje has incredible geological formations showing a unique and accessible record of 300,000 years of Tenerife’s oldest highly explosive eruptions in geological deposits called ‘ignimbrites’. Preserving this record is important to define how many highly explosive “Plinian” events Tenerife has experienced to inform emergency management plans for Tenerife’s residents and tourists. To learn more about the geology of El Puertito, see our interactive map below.

Over the past three years, our GeoInterns have been working with Dr Richard Brown of Durham University to uncover evidence of more explosive eruptions than the 20 already on record. This research in Tenerife is also helping to build volcanic resilience globally. Read more about why preserving the ignimbrites is important in the geology section of our report here.

When work on the Cuna del Alma project began in May 2022 weeks of resident and environmental group protests began, which put pressure on the authorities to investigate the project’s impact on the environment. Residents express indignation that land that has been expropriated for 12,000 euros will be redeveloped into a luxury development with villas costing up to 3 Million euros each. To learn more watch our YouTube playlist on how residents feel about the project.

The land protection of El Puertito was recently changed to reclassify the El Puertito from “Rustic”, a protected land classification which prevents construction, to “Urbanisable”, earmarking the area for development. Despite El Puertito’s natural values and proximity to the La Caleta Site of Scientific Interest and the Teno-Rasca Marine Special Area of Conservation. The land was previously identified as ecologically important but then reclassified to build another large-scale tourist development on the disappearing natural coast of Southern Tenerife. To learn more about Tenerife’s environmental legislation read the Territorial Planning section of our report here. 

Greenwashing is the presenting of false claims about the environmental friendliness of a product, service, or project to appeal to customers. A leading expert has analysed the Cuna del Alma website for potential greenwashing practices; Whilst the project claims it will produce 750 jobs, revive the natural environment, and protect biodiversity, what is the reality for the residents and environment? To learn how some claims made on the website misrepresent the development in El Puertito, read the Greenwashing section of our report here.

Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the EU that protects biodiversity. The marine strip of Teno-Rasca, a Natura 2000 site, protects marine species in the sea of South Tenerife. This high level of protection is based on the marine biodiversity, with various dolphins and turtle species like the loggerhead turtle. Moreover, the diversity of the Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation (SAC) has been recognized as a Whale Heritage site by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA).

This Special Area of Conservation is threatened by the construction of the Cuna del Alma project; to find out more, read our report.

Puertito de Adeje is one of the few stretches of the southwest coast that is largely unchanged and a haven for rare native plants, especially the tabaibal-cardonal mature community of coastal scrub. Some of these specimens are over 100 years old and cannot simply be replanted elsewhere and the loss of these plants would impact a landscape Tenerife’s residents have been able to enjoy for generations.  To learn more about the vegetation use our interactive map below and to learn why preserving the tabaibal-cardinal community is important read the Vegetation and Soil section in our report here. 

According to the EU Habitat Directive, habitats of community interest are natural areas of significant importance for biodiversity conservation in the European Union. In the Puertito area, there are significant Macaronesian habitats of community interest that could be destroyed. To learn about the habitats of community interest in El Puertito, read our report here. 

Our December 2023 Research Campaign in collaboration with the Oceanographic Institute and with our Marine Science students researched the marine life present in this area, using underwater drone flights, which could be endangered by the construction of a hotel complex. The seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) observed in the marine environment of El Puertito is a vital marine ecosystem in sandy bottoms; Seagrass meadows serve as a nursery habitat for fishes and invertebrates. However, the marine environment observed in El Puertito has started to deteriorate due to water contamination. To learn more about the native marine species, invasive algae, and the source of effluent along Southern Tenerife, please read our report here.