The Cabildo has cracked down on illegal tourist excursions, issuing its first fine to a company for driving a convoy of buggies within the protected zone of Los Ajaches.
The Cabildo’s Environmental Department imposed a €4,500 penalty on the tour operator, a sanction classified as serious under current land and environmental protection regulations. The offence was discovered by the Council’s environmental agents during an inspection of the area last July.
In a firm statement, the President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, described the fine as “an exemplary measure that demonstrates this institution’s firm commitment to enforcing the law and protecting Lanzarote’s natural heritage.”
“We cannot allow,” Betancort added, “the territory to be irresponsibly degraded or unauthorized activities to damage our landscapes. Lanzarote cannot be understood without its nature and defending it is a collective obligation.”
The Cabildo has clarified that organised tourist excursions using buggies, quads, or caravan safaris are strictly prohibited on rural land and within protected natural areas. This is because there is no official network of approved routes for such vehicles on the island.
Explaining the ecological damage, the Minister for the Environment, Samuel Martín, emphasised that “the unauthorized use of quads, 4x4s, or buggies not only erodes agricultural roads and raises dust, but also poses a real risk to biodiversity and affects particularly fragile species. The houbara bustard, for example, may abandon breeding areas in the face of continuous noise and traffic, compromising its survival.”
These activities cause soil compaction, erosion, and damage to vegetation, disrupting the habitat’s balance. Highly sensitive species, including the vulnerable Canarian houbara bustard and other steppe birds, can suffer severe disturbances to their feeding, breeding, and movement patterns.
Martín further stated that “these practices are expressly prohibited without specific authorisation from the Regional Ministry, and any violation entails legal liability and penalties. It is not a question of limiting for the sake of limiting, but of ensuring that any activity is carried out in an orderly and sustainable manner, respecting the natural values that make places like Los Ajaches unique.”
The Council is now calling on all tourism companies, visitors, and residents to act responsibly and contribute to the preservation of the island.
Concluding the statement, President Oswaldo Betancort issued a final reminder: “This island is not a racetrack. It is a unique place that we must care for with common sense and respect. Lanzarote is protected by all of us.”
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!