Former Road Engineer Wins Goldman Prize for Saving Tenerife’s Marine Ecosystem
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📰 The quick summary: Carlos Mallo Molina won the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for successfully stopping a port project that threatened marine biodiversity in Tenerife’s protected waters, leading to plans for an environmental education center instead.
📈 One key stat: The marine protected area saved by Molina’s activism is home to abundant sea turtles, whales, and diverse marine life that now remains safeguarded from infrastructure development.
💬 One key quote: “I was going diving every weekend in my free time, and it was full of sea turtles, it was full of whales, it was full of marine life. And so, I think understanding how my impact was going to destroy [a] marine protected area … I think that was where I had my biggest click in my brain … I need to do something to change what I’m doing, in [a] way that I can protect this ocean.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Carlos Mallo Molina, a former road engineer, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for his successful campaign to protect marine biodiversity in Tenerife. After recognizing that his work on a road project directly threatened the Teno-Rasca marine protected area, Molina quit his job and launched a campaign against the connected port development. His efforts included gathering crucial ecological data that highlighted the area’s rich biodiversity and importance. Through persistent advocacy, Molina convinced the Canary Islands government to abandon the port project that would have severely damaged this sensitive ecosystem.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The cancellation of the port project ensures the continued protection of the Teno-Rasca marine protected area, preserving critical habitat for sea turtles, whales, and diverse marine life. In place of the destructive development, an environmental education center is now planned, creating a positive legacy that will promote conservation awareness for future generations. Molina’s nonprofit Innoceana continues to advocate for marine protection throughout the region, expanding the impact beyond just this single victory. This success demonstrates how dedicated individuals can effectively challenge harmful infrastructure projects and create meaningful alternatives that better serve both communities and nature.
3️⃣ What’s next: Molina and his nonprofit Innoceana are now helping establish an environmental education center where the port was originally planned. This center aims to foster greater understanding and appreciation for marine ecosystems among locals and visitors. Their ongoing work continues to focus on marine protection throughout the Canary Islands and beyond.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – How a road engineer became an ocean activist & won the world’s top environmental prize
