The Canarian Ministry of Territorial Policy, Cohesion, and Water has held a meeting with the public company GRAFCAN to review its progress and discuss key challenges and action plans through to 2027.
The meeting was led by Manuel Miranda, the Minister for Territorial Policy, and Juan Manuel Poveda, GRAFCAN’s Director. They evaluated the current status of the public company and outlined priorities aimed at strengthening its role as a strategic tool for the Canarian Government in territorial knowledge and management.
Miranda emphasised, “GRAFCAN is vital for Canary Islands as it helps us better understand our territory and provides accurate information for quicker and more effective decision-making.” He highlighted GRAFCAN’s ability to transform territorial data into actionable tools and mentioned that the goal of the Canarian Government is to further modernise and strengthen GRAFCAN, preparing it to meet new demands from both administrations and the local community.
The minister pointed out significant challenges ahead, including climate change adaptation, natural risk management, land protection, and demographic issues, stressing the need for the best information to tackle these challenges.
During the session, GRAFCAN’s leadership outlined planned initiatives under its Strategic Plan for 2022-2027, aimed at economic, legal, and organisational consolidation. Priorities include maintaining positive results, finalising the regulatory framework of the Canary Islands Territorial Information System (SITCAN), and adapting the company’s structure to current needs.
The meeting also reviewed GRAFCAN’s high-value services to the Canarian Government, including the development of IDECanarias, demographic challenge monitoring tools, and territorial change assessments for environmental protection agencies. A specific focus is enhancing GRAFCAN’s capacity to provide information and analyses for emergency decision-making, which has already proven useful in responding to incidents such as the Tenerife wildfire and possible volcanic eruptions.
Overall, this meeting aligns with the Canarian Government’s strategic objectives, aiming to further improve territorial information services and their effectiveness in public decision-making.
