The Tenerife Island Council has received over 400 complaints for alleged breaches of environmental regulations in the initial six months of the year. Out of these, 280 are related to issues falling under the jurisdiction of the island authority, such as illegal parking, unauthorized camping, circulation of motor vehicles, or failure to comply with fire prevention measures.
The remaining complaints have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action, as stated in a release by the Tenerife Island Council. These include the Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment, the State Agency for Air Safety, and the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office.
During the first half of the year, 120 violation reports were issued in the Teide National Park. Most of these violations pertained to improper parking outside designated areas and, to a lesser extent, unauthorized movements in exclusion and restricted zoning.
Across other protected natural areas on the island, there have been 35 complaints filed for unauthorized camping, with the majority occurring in the La Caleta Site of Scientific Interest (Adeje). Additionally, 18 complaints were lodged for unauthorized movement through the El Pijaral Integral Natural Reserve (Anaga) and 5 for access to the exclusion and restricted zones of the Chinyero Special Natural Reserve.
Regarding forestry matters, a total of 26 violation reports were issued for the recreational use of vehicles on forest tracks not designated for such activities, 11 for failure to comply with forest fire prevention measures, and 11 for unauthorized forest clearing, cutting, and exploitation.
Most of the infringement reports concerning hunting in the first half of the year related to hunting during the closed season, which remains in effect until the first Sunday of August.
The fines imposed vary according to the nature of the violation committed.
For instance, fines for breaching fire prevention regulations range from 200 to 1,000 euros, with the possibility of criminal liability if a fire is caused.
Penalties for unauthorized camping in protected natural areas range from 150 to 600 euros, while fines for driving on forest tracks without permission can go up to 6,000 euros, depending on the damage caused.
Moreover, fines for driving outside approved paths in exclusion zones or restricted areas, and for parking vehicles outside designated spaces, range from 200 to 375 euros.