Tenerife Expands Forest Ranger Corps to Bolster Environmental Protection
Tenerife’s local council is hiring 20 new forest rangers to bolster environmental protection and emergency response capabilities, with a significant focus on increasing surveillance within Teide National Park.
Tenerife is changing how it manages its island ecosystems. The local council (Cabildo) has announced the immediate hiring of 20 new forest rangers to address staff shortages and improve the island’s ability to respond to natural disasters and climate-related emergencies.
The most significant change will take place in Teide National Park. As the island’s primary tourist destination and a highly fragile ecological site, the park’s surveillance team will grow from just two agents to eleven. This increase ensures a constant presence on the ground, allowing for better environmental protection and faster responses to emergencies like forest fires, floods, or rescue operations.
Beyond simply increasing staff numbers, the council is focusing on technical specialization. The ranger corps already works with the Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate environmental crimes and uses digital tools to monitor online infractions. Future plans include creating specialized brigades to analyze the causes of fires, protect specific plant and animal species, and a new canine unit trained to detect illegal toxic substances.
According to the council, these 20 new hires are just the first step in a long-term plan to fill vacancies caused by retirements and other operational needs. Before starting their roles, the new rangers will undergo training on safety protocols and digital management tools. This expansion highlights the growing need to professionalize the protection of Tenerife’s natural heritage as the island faces increasing human pressure and the challenges of climate change.