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Cigarette butts scattered across dry pine needles have sparked concern at one of Tenerife’s most visited natural attractions, with environmentalists warning of the serious fire risk they pose.
The Chipeque viewpoint, located in the Corona Forestal natural park, has surged in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to viral posts on social media. But with the rise in visitors has come a worrying increase in careless behaviour, most notably, the discarding of cigarette butts in a highly flammable environment.
A recent photo taken at the site shows the car park area littered with discarded cigarettes, despite ongoing cleaning efforts by environmental crews. The ground is covered in pinocha, a local term for dry pine needles, an organic material that is extremely combustible, and the area was badly damaged during the 2023 wildfire.
Authorities say the problem is not new. According to the Canarina Foundation, an environmental group in the Canary Islands, cigarette butts are not only a fire hazard but also release harmful chemicals and take years to degrade, damaging fragile ecosystems in the process.
The Tenerife Cabildo has previously identified discarded cigarettes as one of the top three causes of wildfires and forest fires on the island. In response, smoking was banned last summer in all forest areas, including trails, campsites, and viewpoints like Chipeque.
Despite those measures, the threat remains. Several recent wildfires across the Canary Islands, including the large blazes in Ifonche in 2022 and the Teide National Park in 2021, are suspected to have been caused by discarded cigarette ends.
The latest images from Chipeque have reignited calls for more responsible tourism and greater public awareness about the impact of human activity in protected areas. With wildfire season approaching once again, officials are urging visitors to respect the environment and follow all safety regulations.
