Ricardo Melchior, Tenerife Cabildo chief, has threatened to take the Canarian government to court if it fails to hand over management control of the Teide National Park to the island's governing body.
The dispute over the park, which after drawing over three million people last year is Spain's most visited, began when Spain's Environment Ministry transferred responsibility for all National Parks in the Canaries to the regional government. These parks include Teide Garajonay in La Gomera, Caldera de Taburianta in La Palma and Timanfaya in Lanzarote.
Despite the Cabildo immediately voicing its opposition to the transfer the war of words has since escalated, culminating in Melchior's recent threat.
The Cabildo have always argued that the individual island corporations have the right under devolution legislation to have control of all protected, natural areas.
In the case of Teide, the disagreement is not simply a case of whose flag should fly in the park. The corporation have long considered ways in which to generate revenue from Teide including possible restricted access to the spectacular landscape except for official guided tours, for which a charge would be levied.
While the Canarian government has offered the Cabildos on the islands with National Parks a place on a board to jointly oversee the running of them, Tenerife has refused because it would effectively mean acknowledging the government's authority over them.
