Tenerife Council Divided Over Privatization of Teide National Park Security
The Tenerife Island Council is embroiled in a political dispute over the outsourcing of security at Teide National Park, with the PSOE opposing the use of private rural guards in favor of public environmental agents.
Teide National Park has become the center of a heated political debate within the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo) over how the protected area should be monitored.
The Socialist group (PSOE) is calling on the island’s government to stop the bidding process for a contract to hire 16 private rural guards. They argue that this work should be handled exclusively by public environmental agents, claiming that outsourcing these duties is inappropriate.
The disagreement centers on how to best manage the park. PSOE spokesperson Aarón Afonso argues that the council should hire temporary public staff instead, which he claims would save 3.7 million euros over three years. However, Cabildo President Rosa Dávila insists the private guards are a necessary addition. Supported by the Canarian Coalition, the Popular Party, and Vox, Dávila maintains that these guards provide essential 24-hour coverage while working under the direct supervision of environmental officials.
The island government defends its strategy by pointing to recent improvements. Dávila noted that the number of environmental agents has grown from two to 14 in the last year—a 600% increase. This team is now supported by nine specialized technicians and coordinated efforts with the Canarian Police, the La Orotava Local Police, and the Civil Guard’s nature protection unit (Seprona). Officials state that this approach aligns with the park’s recently approved management plan.
Beyond the surveillance debate, the council also discussed emergency management. The PSOE questioned why a content creator was allowed inside the Island Operational Coordination Center (Cecopin) during the recent storm, Therese. While Councilor Blanca Pérez did not provide an explanation, the Island Director of Emergencies, Iván Martín, took responsibility, stating that the center’s ability to function remained the top priority.
The session concluded with the approval of several motions, including initiatives for the digital protection of minors, an extension for using Next Generation funding until 2028, Parkinson’s disease awareness, and new volcanic risk protocols. Despite these agreements, the dispute over outsourcing security at Teide remains a major point of contention, highlighting a deep divide over how to protect the island’s most important natural landmark.