Manuel Nogales, the delegate of the CSIC in the Canary Islands, a member of the Teide Board, and a professor at the Faculty of Biology at the University of La Laguna, openly supports the draft of the Teide National Park Usage and Management Plan.
He advocates for the closure of the national park at night to protect it from the detrimental effects of outdoor drinking parties (botellons) and cars racing each other, and emphasizes the need for more forestal and security agents to address the aftermath of people gathering to stargaze, leaving the area in disarray.
Expressing concern about conflicting interests, Nogales points out the challenges posed by various groups, including political pressures from beekeepers and opposition from the tourism sector to a "green tax."
He laments the clash of interests affecting decision-making in the park's management, stating: "The problem is that there are many groups with interests, and this is evident in the boards, where political instances are influenced by authentic pressure groups such as beekeepers, and where tourism professionals do not want a green tax... and it's clear that this is not working well."
Highlighting the popularity of Las Cañadas as the second most-visited park in the world after Yellowstone, Nogales acknowledges the challenges posed by the 4.4 million annual visitors. He highlights the need for conservation over exploitation, stating, "Everyone wants to exploit it, but that is not possible."
Despite his support for the draft plan, Nogales believes it falls short and criticizes the lack of decisions favouring conservation in the board meetings.
Nogales argues that public use, while anticipated in national parks, should not be abused. He questions the relevance of activities like the Blue Trail or beekeeping to conservation efforts, stating, "The first precept worldwide is conservation, and how does beekeeping fit into that on Teide?" He advocates for bold political decisions, including the discontinuation of beekeeping, in the same way as the removal of goat herding in 1951.
Regarding parking issues, Nogales suggests controlling visits and seeking input from experts. He firmly insists on the necessity of closing the park at night due to vandalism, alcohol-related litter, and unauthorized races. He added, "When the island ring road is finished, nighttime passage must be restricted."
Nogales warns of the potential loss of the park's national status unless measures are taken. He emphasizes the need for stringent control and expresses dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. He supports the idea of shuttle buses and endorses a fee, even if waived for residents, as long as the funds are allocated to conservation efforts or hiring park wardens.
Finally, Nogales stresses the importance of informed decision-making to preserve the ecological value of the Teide National Park, urging authorities to heed the warnings and act promptly.
