Background On 4 August, 2012, the island of La Gomera experienced the most ecologically damaging wild fire to affect the Canary Islands for several decades. The fire spread across more than 3 613 ha, burning over 32% of the total area of the seven Natura 2000 sites directly affected. Nearly 20% of the surface of Garajonay National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – was burned, totalling over 740 ha. The wild fire had an extremely serious impact on the environment, resulting in the destruction of large areas of vegetation. It burned the largest ever area of laurel forest in the archipelago, including vast areas of ancient laurel forests of high ecological value. This ancient forest had already been identified as a priority habitat for conservation under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and large sections were protected within Garajonay National Park. The fire also resulted in a great loss of soil quality, caused a serious deterioration of water catchment functions and directly affected many populations of threatened species. Moreover, the fire adversely affected the natural hydrological cycle of the forests, on which the island depends for its water supply. Objectives The LIFE+ GARAJONAY VIVE project aims both to develop the means to reduce the risk of wild fires in the Canary Islands and to support the natural regeneration of laurel forest habitats already affected by fire and their dependent species. The project plans to improve our knowledge base on both these areas. On the basis of this initial research, the project team expect to draft strategies to prevent and tackle forest fires more effectively and to restore the targeted habitats. In the implementation phase, the team aim to introduce measures to reduce the incidence of fires and facilitate the extinguishing fires should they occur. Implementation of the habitat restoration strategy should at least cover the affected area of the Garajonay National Park. Given the fact that many fires – including the devastating 2012 one – were caused by (deliberate) human action, the project hopes to engage local communities on the island of Gomera to raise their awareness of the impact and cost of wild fires to society and the natural environment. Expected results: A strategy to prevent and tackle wild fires in the Canary Islands; A strategy to support natural regeneration of affected laurel forest habitats; The implementation of restoration activities in at least the Garajonay National Park; Improved public awareness of the threat to laurel forest ecosystems from forest fires; Long-term restoration of the affected priority habitats; and Long-term recovery of the affected populations of endangered species, improving their conservation status.