The Tenerife Cabildo has launched disciplinary proceedings against a group of four people caught having a barbecue in the protected area of Las Minas de San José, within Teide National Park.
The incident, which took place last Thursday night, is being treated as an illegal activity, and a formal complaint has been filed.
The group, all residents of Tenerife, was intercepted by night patrol officers from the park's rural surveillance service. According to the Cabildo, penalties for such infractions can range from €100 to €1,000. However, if the use of fire is found to have posed a serious risk to the natural environment, fines could escalate dramatically to anywhere between €6,000 and €600,000.
This incident adds to a worrying trend of environmental violations in one of Spain’s most treasured natural spaces. So far this year, the Cabildo has filed nearly 100 sanctions related to environmental offences in Teide National Park. These include unauthorised parking, unapproved activities, illegally driving on forest tracks, and camping without the necessary permits.
The increase in violations has prompted the island authority to strengthen its surveillance operations, including the deployment of special monitoring units. In 2024, reported infractions within the national park nearly tripled compared to the previous year, rising from 100 in 2023 to 262, based on data from the Cabildo.
Environmental authorities, supported by agents from the Canary Islands Police, Guardia Civil, and the island’s own environmental units, continue to stress the importance of preserving Teide National Park’s fragile ecosystem. The Cabildo reiterated that such reckless behaviour not only endangers the natural landscape but also undermines collective efforts to protect one of the most iconic and biologically significant sites in the Canary Islands.
