The Foundation was based in December, 1998 on the concern of a group of professionals and nature lovers, seeing privately owned land left abandoned and the present condition of the Canary Island plant ecosystem.

For this Foundation to be possible, support was sought among private initiative and backing was found in four local businesses, now its founder patrons. More collaborators have gradually appeared to help this Foundation operate and become consolidated.

The Foundation has a clear vocation for collaboration and participation, both with society in general and with different institutions and public bodies.

Marcos and Cordero springs (La Palma)

The basic principle of Foresta is to increase and enhance the surface area of the islands given over to woodland and forests, securing the land against the erosion derived from deforestation in the past, creating new life and maintaining biodiversity.

The goals enabling us to comply with this fundamental principle are:

• to enhance the ecological and social and economic quality of the area, according to its peculiar characteristics
  
• to increase the islands' landscape and tourist value, both for ourselves and for our visitors
  
• to favour social awareness of the importance and value of our natural resources
  
• to contribute to the forestry research and experimentation required to make the most needy islands and areas green again.
  

The Foundation operates all over the Canary Islands, although most of its activities take place on Gran Canaria. Nonetheless, Foresta is currently developing projects on other islands, such as Tenerife.