Surge in Penalties Across Protected Landscapes
Fines for environmental breaches in Teide National Park have skyrocketed by 358% over the last two years. The number of penalties rose from 81 in 2023, to 224 the following year, and reached 371 in 2025. Across all of Tenerife’s protected natural spaces, which cover 48% of the island’s surface and include the Anaga and Teno Rural Parks, the total count of reports and fines has increased by 110% in the same period, climbing from 657 to 1,382 by the close of last year. The figure for 2024 was 921.
Hotspots for Enforcement Action
Aside from the national park and specific camping issues in La Caleta de Adeje, other key areas for enforcement include the Corona Forestal with 167 reports, the Anaga Rural Park with 115, and Teno with 34. Another notable hotspot is the Las Lagunetas protected landscape, where 133 reports were filed for various reasons. This 3,800-hectare area spans the municipalities of Candelaria, El Rosario, El Sauzal, La Matanza, La Victoria, Santa Úrsula and Tacoronte, forming the north-eastern foothills of the Pedro Gil dorsal ridge, a complex volcanic structure that runs northeast-southwest through this part of Tenerife.
Council Credits Expanded Surveillance
Blanca Pérez, Councillor for the Natural Environment for Tenerife’s Island Council (Cabildo), stated that these figures “are the result of collaboration and coordination between everyone working to keep our natural spaces safe.” She emphasised that “surveillance has increased,” noting that “we have extended it to weekends as well,” and have “consolidated and strengthened it in Teide National Park with rural guards and the Canary Islands Police.”
Pérez stressed that “during this 2026 we will continue to reinforce that coordination” and announced plans to “extend it to more natural spaces,” with special attention paid to Teide National Park, the Corona Forestal, and the Anaga and Teno Rural Parks. The stated goal is “for every natural space to have the level of control and surveillance discipline it deserves.”
Who Is Issuing the Fines?
Nine different authorities, including three police forces, are responsible for the reports, in addition to those filed by seven private citizens. Compared to last year, the 167 reports from the Teide National Park’s own Surveillance Service stand out, as it issued none in 2024. Also notable are the 239 from the Canary Islands Police, up from 125 in 2024, and the 725 filed by the Island’s Environmental Agents (up from 464 the previous year).
Breaking Down the Offences
Regarding the types of offences, those related to hiking rose sharply from 55 in 2024 to 195. Offences concerning construction works also saw a slight increase from 111 to 115. Fire-related reports saw an exponential jump from 35 to 119. Interestingly, traffic fines increased from 93 to 145, while penalties for inappropriate parking fell from 204 to 147. The only other category to see a decrease was hunting, which dropped from 69 to 53 reports.
A Coordinated Security Push
The increased enforcement stems from a coordinated push. Tenerife’s Cabildo and the Government Sub-Delegation agreed to establish a special surveillance operation in protected natural areas for the May bank holiday weekend in 2024. The Canary Islands Police and local police from La Orotava, Santa Cruz and La Laguna later joined the effort. This began seasonally during Easter 2024 and, from 2025 onwards, became a permanent fixture including weekends.
This guarantees a presence in Teide National Park and the Teno and Anaga Rural Parks from the Guardia Civil, Canary Islands Police, local police, the Cabildo’s Environmental Agents, and rural guards from the Island’s Federation of Hunting Management Associations. All participate in operations, such as the recent ‘Operación Nevada’, in strategic enclaves to guarantee safety, public order, and prevent negative environmental impacts.
Vigilance, Not Infringements, on the Rise
Pedro Millán, the Island Director of the Environment, interprets the data as showing that “it is not so much that there has been an increase in offences, but that surveillance has multiplied.” He emphasised that patrols “no longer only cover morning hours, as was the case until mid-2023, but now also operate in the afternoons, at night, and on weekends.” He points out that this advancement “is thanks to all the police forces, environmental agents, and rural guards for the work they are doing to cover practically everywhere at all hours.”
Focus on Illegal Camping
The analysis of penalty types highlights those related to camping. The high number of reports in this category is striking at 177 (12.8% of the total), though it should be noted that an intensive control campaign was carried out throughout last year at La Caleta de Adeje, in the Diego Hernández beach natural area, resulting in 108 interventions (7.8% of the total).
Pedro Millán explained that “there was a trend, particularly among the foreign population, to camp systematically in that natural space.” This led to “continuous actions” over several months by environmental agents, the Canary Islands Police, the Guardia Civil’s Seprona (environmental protection service), and local police from Adeje to “maintain pressure,” resulting in that high volume of reports. Even during the Christmas period, operations continued to, as Millán notes, “prevent impunity for illegal camping on the coast of these protected spaces.” This measure will remain in place “so people are clear that these are not places for almost permanent camping.”
New Management Era for Teide
Teide National Park is currently in the spotlight after the full transfer of competences from the Canary Islands Government to the Tenerife Cabildo was finalised before the end of last year. Furthermore, the new Master Plan for Use and Management (PRUG) has just come into force after completing administrative procedures. Councillor Blanca Pérez added that “more than 86% of foreigners pay their fines within the first payment period,” which “consolidates the trend that began in 2024.”
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