The organization finds it concerning that the Canary Island palm is not expressly included in the special protection lists of the legal text, despite being an endemic species and a natural symbol of the archipelago.

In La Gomera, the Canary Island palm is fundamental to the landscape, cultural identity, and local economy, especially in municipalities where the artisanal extraction of guarapo and the production of palm honey generate employment and economic activity.

The allegations submitted to the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy detail the threats facing the species, such as pests (diocalandra), fungal diseases, hybridization with other Phoenix species, persistent drought, climate change effects, and urban pressure that fragments its natural habitats.

They also warn about the increasing risk of forest fires, especially in abandoned agricultural areas, where biomass accumulation increases fire intensity and endangers mature specimens and natural regeneration.

The organization recalls that the Canary Island palm was already protected by regional regulations from 1991, so its current exclusion would represent a setback in the conservation of this botanical symbol. Furthermore, there are subsequent specific regulations, such as the Law on Symbols of Nature of the Canary Islands and a 2006 Decree, that recognize its importance and seek to preserve its genetic identity.

Among the concrete proposals, they request the immediate inclusion of Phoenix canariensis in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime of the Canary Islands, its scientific evaluation for possible cataloging as a “Vulnerable” species, and the approval of a specific conservation plan against pests, fires, and hybridization. They also call for the implementation of a Management Plan for the palm groves of La Gomera, adapted to their unique characteristics.