Palm Fronds Distributed to Support Local Craftsmanship in Fuerteventura
The Fuerteventura Cabildo has provided palm fronds to local artisans in a bid to preserve traditional crafts like palm weaving and pírgano basketry, which are at risk of fading away.
This initiative, led by the Ministry of Crafts under Lolina Negrín, aims to ensure artisans have access to essential materials amid various challenges, including a shortage caused by phytosanitary regulations to control pests affecting palm trees in the Canary Islands and the generational shift within these trades.
Negrín emphasised the importance of preserving traditional craftsmanship, stating that ensuring artisans have necessary resources is vital for passing their skills onto future generations.
To support this effort, the Cabildo has harvested palm fronds from trees at the Pozo Negro Experimental Farm, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, directing the harvested material to artisans practising these traditional techniques.
Through this initiative, the insular government promotes and protects Fuerteventura’s rich artisan heritage, recognising traditional crafts as integral to the island’s cultural identity.
