The La Palma volcano continues to emit lava. Advancing at approximately 120 meters per hour, the terrain surrounding the volcano is currently covered with black lava that solidified is practically impossible to remove. And as estimated by the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan), the eruption could last between 24 and 84 days, with an average of about 55 days, so there are many who wonder what will happen to those lands destroyed by the volcano. from La Palma.
What will happen to the land destroyed by the La Palma volcano?
The landscape on La Palma is really bleak. The lava has destroyed almost everything in its path and the landscape is completely different from what it was before. In a matter of hours, the entire ecosystem around the volcano has been affected so that the land is no longer fertile and does not allow any type of life.
Experts analyze what will happen once the volcano stops erupting and although the intention of the Canarian government is to recover the affected lands , the truth is that the possibilities of what can happen are many, although it seems that time is the key to what can and cannot be done.
According to the ecologist Fernando Valladares of the CSIC, it can take from “decades to centuries” before recovering the lands that are now covered with lava. It will depend on how it sets and solidifies so it is clear that the process is going to be quite “slow”.
Valladares explains that once the lava has completely cooled, the appearance of “bacteria and microorganisms” will occur which, although barely seen, are very important since “they contribute to facilitating the conditions for those who come later.”
From there, the type of solidification that the lava has comes into play since in the event that the rock can degrade , soil could be created. In addition, an “aid to nature” will also be required so that the recovery process can be accelerated.
In this sense, it advises that the morphology of the terrain be modified in very specific areas or also plant some seeds. A help that although subtle can be quite effective.
Being optimistic and without being able to give a sure answer, Valladares is of the opinion that if one acts correctly, vegetation could be seen again in the lands now eaten by lava in a period of between 15 and 20 years . However, there is also the possibility that centuries will pass until organisms colonize the area, making it less fertile.
Could it be built on the affected land?
Despite the uncertainty about the recovery of the lands affected by the eruption of the La Palma volcano, this does not mean that it cannot be built on them.
For Valladares, even simple constructions could be built within a year , that is, small houses and roads that are not very complex, but not without first doing the pertinent studies in addition to analyzing well how the lava has solidified.
Are the affected lands going to be requalified?
Once the volcano is no longer erupting, it seems that the intention will then be to try to recover the area with a new construction on the land that in fact belongs to those who had their houses there. For this reason, the Government of the Canary Islands is already preparing a draft decree law to requalify the land.
In fact, a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Care for Volcanic Risk will be held to deal with this specific issue so that the area can be rebuilt urgently and immediately.
