The Tenerife Cabildo has processed 25 sanctions for violations committed by illegal campers in the Montaña Pelada protected area in Granadilla de Abona in the south of Tenerife. These actions follow evictions and reports from the Canary Police, who discovered camping illegally, using motorbikes, and making campfires in the area last Sunday.
The infractions were detected during a routine patrol by the Canary Police, who found several people spending the night in tents and lighting fires in the natural monument. Montaña Pelada is a protected volcanic cone formed by hydrovolcanic activity, featuring a nearly a kilometre-wide caldera and a fossil dune that records historical sea level changes.
The Vice President of the Cabildo, José Miguel Ruano, stated that the Natural Environment, Sustainability, and Security and Emergencies department has opened the necessary administrative proceedings to penalise the offenders.
He emphasised the seriousness of the violations, especially given the explicit prohibition against such activities due to current environmental conditions.
Ruano detailed the range of fines, which can reach up to 6,000 euros depending on the severity of the infraction. Specifically:
- Camping or unauthorised fire-making: Fines up to 1,000 euros per person.
- Further consequences from fire: Offenders could face criminal responsibility and jail in addition to fines.
