New initiative to safeguard Tenerife’s natural treasure. The Tenerife Cabildo announced on Wednesday that it will install cameras at the main entrances to Teide National Park to manage visitor capacity and prevent overcrowding that may harm the delicate ecosystems at the summit of Spain.
The funding sanctioned by the island’s Government Council will facilitate the deployment of control technology “to regulate visitor flow and conserve the park’s natural resources,” as stated by the Tenerife Corporation.
To achieve this, 9 surveillance cameras will be set up to monitor traffic and capacity across the four access roads, including high-traffic areas, along with 30 trail gauges, which are devices designed to measure visitor numbers on particular routes in real time.
Other measures that complement those recently implemented include trail enhancements
Additional initiatives, reinforcing those already executed in recent weeks, include the adaptation and enhancement of trails through interventions on the 41 existing in the National Park, as well as upgrades to the 32 viewpoints and the outdoor area of the Juan Évora ethnographic museum, focusing on improving safety, usability, and maintenance.
In total, the trails within Europe’s most visited protected area span 130.8 kilometres. Furthermore, improvements are slated for the rest areas at Alto de Guamaso and Roques de García, crucial entry points for visitors, and five interpretive signage panels will be placed at strategic locations in the Park to provide educational content about the natural environment and its features.
Hikers at the entrance to Teide peak. / Arturo Jiménez
To implement these new measures, the Governing Council of the Cabildo de Tenerife has approved an investment of 1.8 million euros for the refurbishment and enhancement of the public infrastructure within Teide National Park.
This initiative, part of a partnership with the Department of Ecological Transition of the Canary Islands Government, is included in a wider investment package of 5.4 million euros, which encompasses the actions related to trails, viewpoints, rest areas, parking facilities, and visitor flow management measures.
With this, there are now four sets of initiatives approved by the island government following the rescues of 130 individuals within two days in mid-November, who recklessly ascended Mount Teide on foot. Most of these individuals, predominantly European tourists, intended to walk up Teide via the Montaña Amarilla trail and descend using the cable car. However, they were unaware that the cable car was closed due to adverse weather conditions. The majority were inadequately prepared and dressed for the ascent.
Four sets of measures have now been approved by the island government following the rescues of 130 individuals
The initial restriction was imposed on November 18 as a result of these rescues, which necessitated the mobilisation of significant emergency resources due to the tourists’ recklessness. On that day, the Cabildo decided to close access to the climb to Spain’s highest peak from early afternoon (16:00) to morning (09:00).
Additionally, the Natural Environment department has filed cases against these 130 individuals for reckless behaviour, as they should have been informed of the Teide Cable Car’s closure. This filing could lead to a fine of at least 600 euros.
Teide with its ‘little hat’. / The Day
On November 27th, an additional set of restrictions was announced. The key change: daily access to the summit of Spain will be limited to 300 individuals, managed by time slots of one hundred per period.
This access control, which will be enforced on four paths, aims, according to the president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, to “minimise recklessness and negligence that can lead to rescues and, in some instances, accidents; the regulation of individuals ascending the Teide Natural Monument, thus preventing overcrowding and the resulting environmental degradation; and to ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience for the thousands who visit Spain’s highest point.
The third set of measures was announced on December 11: the same permit currently required for those ascending the peak on foot will now be requested for those using the cable car and then descending on foot. The fourth set of solutions has now emerged, incorporating cameras and further capacity controls.
Recent years have seen numerous complaints about irregular visitor behaviours and insufficient management of Teide National Park.
In recent years, there have been myriad complaints regarding improper visitor practices and a lack of resources to control Teide National Park, one of the most frequented in the world, attracting over 4 million visitors annually. These uncivil and reckless actions jeopardise the area’s rich biodiversity, transforming it into a genuine geological museum filled with numerous unique species.
Through these and additional forthcoming measures, such as the recruitment of new monitoring agents (currently, there are just five within the National Park), the Cabildo aims to enhance protection for the space with the greatest natural significance across the entire Island.
