A Historic Milestone for Tenerife
The Cabildo de Tenerife has assumed full, transferred, and non-delegated management of Teide National Park. This follows the publication of the decree in the Canary Islands Official Gazette (BOC) on Wednesday, which transfers authority from the regional government’s Ministry of Ecological Transition. The island’s president, Rosa Dávila, described the conclusion of this lengthy administrative process as “a historic milestone,” stating that Tenerife’s residents have now become the “owners” of their iconic symbol.
Local Management for Local Challenges
Dávila emphasised that “these full powers will allow us not only to provide the Teide with more efficient management but also to make decisions much closer to the territory.” She highlighted current concerns, stating, “We have a concern regarding how visits to the Teide are conducted today, primarily by private vehicle, and we are committed to sustainable mobility, among other challenges.”
She pointed out that the Cabildo is already involved in many of these challenges, such as researching the cedar forest and recovering the species, preserving various ecosystems, fauna, and flora, as well as managing coexistence with the traditional uses that “our people have historically had” on the Teide. Dávila underscored the collaborative nature of the transfer, praising Canary Islands President Clavijo and Councillor Mariano Zapata as “fundamental allies.”
A New Management Framework and Staffing Boost
The transfer, included in the 2025 Budget Law, is now a reality. Dávila noted this makes Teide “the only national park in the Canary Islands managed directly by a Cabildo,” adding that other islands “do not even have delegated authority; this is an innovation and a novelty.” The park will operate under a modern, advanced Plan Rector de Uso y Gestión (PRUG) already in force, which promotes conservation and provides new tools compared to the previous 22-year-old plan.
Regarding staffing, Dávila announced that “as of now, according to the Staffing Plan (RPT) we approved in September directly linked to the transfer,” 13 environmental agents—nearly 70% of the total—and other technicians, making 17 workers in total, can be incorporated into the national park’s team. She revealed, “Our idea is to complete the selection of all new hires within the next two or three months,” and added that support from public companies and rural guards for surveillance has also been reinforced.
Sustainable Mobility and Building on Success
Questioned about a potential repeat of ‘Operación Nevada’ (Operation Snowfall), Dávila stressed that the recent one “was a success, as it allowed over 5,500 Tenerife and Canary Islands residents to go up to the Teide by bus on a weekend, for free and with all safety guarantees.” She insisted that if significant snowfall occurs again, like that brought by Storm Emilia three weeks ago, “we would repeat an operation that works. They are in a position and prepared to do so.”
This operational success is linked to a broader sustainable mobility plan for the park, which, according to the PRUG, falls under the Cabildo’s remit. Dávila announced, “The buses that will provide the service have already been acquired, not only for the interior circuit. There will be 14 vehicles constantly circulating through the most important points.” The goal is to prioritise collective public transport over private or rental car use.
Ecotax for Summit Trails and Future Plans
On the mobility plan, Dávila noted, “We are just starting,” recalling that an executive commission with representatives from various sectors, all administrations, and scientists had already been created. Rosa Dávila also announced a significant new measure: “From this month, foreign tourists will have to pay an ecotax to hike the two summit access trails, Montaña Blanca and Telesforo Bravo.”
She stressed that “all income from this ecotax will be reinvested in the conservation and improvement of the Teide itself.” Concluding, she confirmed, “We are already working, also in that commission, for them to pay an ecotax for visiting the Teide.”
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