Human heritage and sustainable development on arid islands: the case of the Eastern Canary Islands

The islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the easternmost of the Canary Islands, and are located on the southern edge of the temperate zone, in the subtropical anticyclone belt. With less than 150 mm of rainfall a year, they are classified as an arid zone. Their inhabitants have devised original agricultural systems to combat the aridity, although low yields have historically limited socioeconomic development and population growth. These systems were used until the introduction of seawater desalination plants and the arrival of tourism in the last third of the 20th century, which improved living standards for the local population but also led to a cultural transition. Nevertheless, these farming systems have left behind an important regional heritage, with an environmental and scenic value that has played an integral role in the latest phase of development. The systems have become a tourist attraction and have been central to the two islands being designated biosphere reserves by UNESCO. This article seeks to analyze the main socioeconomic and land-use changes that have come about as a result of desalination technology.