Tenerife Bans Smoking Across Teide National Park to Prevent Forest Fires

The Tenerife Island Council has banned smoking throughout Teide National Park, marking a significant shift in how Spain manages risks in protected natural areas. The new rule applies to all trails, viewpoints, parking lots, and public spaces, and is designed to protect the park’s high-mountain ecosystem from the growing threat of forest fires.

Councilor Blanca Pérez introduced the measure following a worrying rise in fire outbreaks caused by discarded cigarette butts. Island Council President Rosa Dávila emphasized that the park’s fragile, unique plant life—such as the broom and rosalillo—requires stricter safety protocols. With high visitor numbers, dry weather, and dense vegetation, authorities are using the precautionary principle to enforce existing forest and biodiversity laws.

The ban applies to all visitors and workers, with the only exceptions being specifically authorized enclosed areas. By targeting one of the most common causes of forest fires, the Council hopes to protect the land and preserve the park’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Officials are calling on the public to act responsibly, noting that preventing individual negligence is essential to saving one of the country’s most iconic natural landmarks during this climate emergency.