Fuerteventura’s Popular Group Proposes Access Fees for Natural Parks
The Popular Group in Fuerteventura’s council has proposed a new fiscal regulation that would introduce a fee for accessing and maintaining the island’s protected natural spaces, exempting local residents.
Party spokesperson Claudio Gutiérrez explained that this initiative aims to secure funding for the conservation of Fuerteventura’s natural heritage while ensuring its residents do not pay for entry to their own parks. Visitors from mainland Spain and abroad would primarily fund this initiative, with reduced rates for Canarian residents—modelled on systems seen in other islands.
Earlier this year, council president Lola García announced plans to introduce an ecotax for access to Lobos Island by this summer. However, months later, Gutiérrez pointed out that there has been no progress on the necessary fiscal ordinance, economic report, or legal process to implement such a measure.
The Popular Group emphasises that the focus should not just be on whether a fee should exist, but rather on how to design it to ensure the conservation of natural spaces and transparency in public resource usage. “Locals should not feel like tourists in their own home. We already contribute to the island’s upkeep and should not pay to access areas that are part of our identity,” Gutiérrez asserted.
Additionally, the motion calls for all revenue generated from the fee to be specifically allocated to environmental conservation efforts, habitat restoration, visitor management, and sustainable infrastructure improvements within the protected areas.
The proposal also demands that the council comply with local finance regulations, draft the necessary fiscal ordinance, and engage in public consultation involving local councils, social groups, businesses, and environmental organisations.
The Popular Party insists that the conservation of iconic sites like Lobos Island, Jandía Natural Park, and Corralejo Dunes requires action. “If the council finds an environmental fee necessary, it must be approached with diligence, transparency, and legal assurance. Announcing it for summer without the legal framework in place is unacceptable,” Gutiérrez concluded.
