The Canary Islands is one of the most active volcanic regions in the World. This has been well evidenced by the past eruptions of El Hierro in 2011-2012 and La Palma in 2021, which remind us that volcanism is a major threat for the economic and social stability of this peripheral Spanish region and that development of strategic disaster risk management actions is mandatory to reduce risk in the whole area.
The aim of this project is to provide technical assistance to the corresponding disaster risk management authorities to undertake the revision of the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Volcanic Risk Emergency in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (PEVOLCA). To accomplish such a complex goal, the applicant (CSIC), in collaboration with the Canarian Government and its main disaster risk management bodies (Civil Protection, First Responders, local governments and municipalities) will provide the basis to undertake a full revision of the existing PEVOLCA, initially approved in 2010 and revised in 2018, adapting it to the real needs of the area, after the experience gained during the management of the La Palma eruption. This will contribute to improve the preparation, reaction and resilience of Canarian society and authorities in front of future eruptions. Taking advantage of previous EC ECHO funded projects (VeTOOLS and EVE) coordinated by the CSIC and aimed at developing a systematic methodology and e-tools to conduct long and short term volcanic hazard assessment and a volcano early warning system, the CSIC will contribute to develop a new volcanic disaster risk management plan for the Canary Islands, from a multi-risk perspective, including an prevention and preparedness based on precise long-term volcanic hazards assessment and volcano monitorig, and developing new risk reduction policies, public awareness raising and training programs for disaster risk management.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG ECHO. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
