The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila (Canarian Coalition), has labeled this Wednesday as “outrageous” the government delegation’s authorization of the demonstration organized by Canarias tiene un Límite in the Roques de García, when, according to her, there are reports against it from the National Park itself.
In a press conference to report on the agreements of the Government Council, she pointed out that “it sets a very dangerous precedent” and is a decision that “lacks common sense” and “violates the basic principle of conservation of one of the most valuable spaces.”
The president of the Cabildo has insisted that the measure is “reckless” and another “example of the neglect” that the central government “habitually shows” towards the archipelago and its institutions. However, Dávila has not commented on the 2026 Vuelta a España getting precisely through the National Park.
“It is unacceptable that the Government of Spain makes decisions of this magnitude without listening to those of us who manage and protect this territory daily. They have ignored our warnings, our technical arguments, and above all, they have disregarded the duty to protect one of the most important natural sites not only of the Canary Islands but of the world,” she stated.
Dávila commented that the Cabildo “absolutely” respects the right of the platform to protest but criticized the “systematic abandonment” and “disregard” of the central government towards the archipelago.
Thus, she cited the backlog in passport processing at Tenerife Sur airport as an example, or how “every day” it continues “ignoring” the situation of migrant minors, culminating now with “authorizing Teide to become a political or social response leaflet” when El Portillo was proposed to the Government Delegation as an alternative location.
“This is mostly about the absolute disconnection from Canarian reality, about a lack of institutional respect that we cannot continue to tolerate,” she indicated, highlighting that it is the first time a demonstration has taken place in a national park in Spain.
Reasons for the protest
The protest is scheduled for this Saturday, June 7, with the aim of demanding the conservation of the Park and “the defense of its values, against the prevalence of mass tourism and leisure promoted by the Cabildo.”
The groups detail that the protest will involve crossing the TF-21 from La Ruleta to the Parador del Teide, in a round trip, in an action that will be “respectful and aware” of the environment.
During the protest, there will be an emphasis on asking visitors to respect the park’s values, avoid parking outside official areas, and not to walk off the trails.
The march will be silent, without using loudspeakers or shouting slogans, conducted on pavement or sidewalks, and there will be no banners anchored.
