A group of visitors has been reported to the authorities after environmental wardens caught them removing volcanic material from Los Volcanes Natural Park last week. The incident, confirmed by local news outlets on 24 June, has renewed attention on a problem that has been affecting Lanzarote’s protected landscapes for a number of years.
When approached by environmental officers, the group claimed to be geology students. Wardens searched their rucksacks and found several samples of volcanic rock, including olivine specimens, along with a geological hammer. The group did not hold any of the permits required to remove material from a protected area. The case has now been reported for possible sanction.
Fines of Up to €3,000 for the Most Serious Offences
Removing rocks, minerals or natural material from a protected area on Lanzarote is treated as an environmental offence. Fines range from €150 for minor cases through to €6,000 for the most serious offences, with the most common penalty range around €3,000 in cases where extraction tools are involved. The specific sanction depends on the quantity removed, the sensitivity of the area, and whether the offender was acting deliberately or unaware of the rules.
Geological hammers are treated as evidence of intent. Picking up a small pebble on a walk is one matter. Arriving at a protected volcanic area with a hammer and a rucksack is another, and the legal framework reflects the difference.
A Tonne of Natural Material Removed Every Year
The wider scale of the problem is significant. Lanzarote loses approximately one tonne of natural material from its protected spaces every year, according to figures previously released by Samuel Martín, the Cabildo’s Environment Minister. The vast majority is lithic material, including stones, rocks, ash and sand, removed by visitors who either do not realise they are committing an offence or take the risk regardless.
Fuerteventura faces a similar issue on a larger scale. The famous Popcorn Beach near Corralejo loses around 1,000 kilograms of its distinctive volcanic sand every month, despite prominent signs warning visitors that removal is illegal. The cumulative impact across the eastern Canary Islands runs into significant volumes of irreplaceable material.
Why Is Olivine Of Interest Scientifically?
The specific mineral found in the rucksacks adds another dimension to the case. Olivine is a magnesium iron silicate that forms in the mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity, often appearing as small green crystals embedded in basalt. The crystals are visually striking, which makes them attractive to amateur collectors, and they hold genuine scientific value for researchers studying the formation of the islands and the volcanic processes that shaped them.
The Canary Islands are recognised as one of the more significant global locations for olivine, and Lanzarote’s deposits have helped researchers piece together the geological history of the archipelago. Each crystal removed without authorisation represents a small loss of scientific information. Across thousands of unauthorised collectors, that loss becomes substantial.
The Los Volcanes Natural Park
Los Volcanes Natural Park covers 10,158 hectares of central Lanzarote across the municipalities of Tías, Tinajo and Yaiza, surrounding the more famous Timanfaya National Park on its western side. The park was declared protected in 1987 and forms part of the wider UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation that covers the whole island. It also holds Special Protection Area for Birds status under European environmental legislation.
The landscape inside the park is the product of the eruptions of 1730 to 1736 and 1824, with lava fields, volcanic cones, hornitos, lava tunnels and ancient craters preserved in extraordinary condition. Lanzarote’s arid climate slows the natural vegetation processes that would normally cover and break down the rock formations, leaving an open-air record of volcanic activity that has no real parallel anywhere in Europe.
The same arid conditions that preserve the landscape also make it slow to recover from any disturbance. A footprint in soft volcanic ash can remain visible for years. A removed rock leaves a gap that the local geology does not replace.
There are Just Eight Rangers for the Entire Island of Lanzarote
One of the structural challenges facing the authorities is the scale of the area under their responsibility relative to the resources available. Lanzarote currently has just eight environmental rangers covering the entire island, including all protected areas, the wider Biosphere Reserve and the surrounding marine environment. The Cabildo’s environment department has been calling for additional staff for several years, alongside clearer information at park entry points and on tourist routes.
In practice, most of the natural material removed from protected areas is intercepted at Lanzarote Airport during security checks. The challenge is proving that any specific rocks or stones were taken from a protected area rather than a public space, which means many offenders are asked to hand the material over rather than facing the full sanction available under the law. Confiscated stones are often reused by the airport’s own gardeners.
What Visitors Should Do For Souvenirs Instead
For souvenirs, locally made items produced by island artisans using legitimately sourced materials are widely available. Volcanic rock jewellery, ceramics, sculptures and decorative pieces can be found at the Sunday market in Teguise, the Haría craft market on Saturdays and the gift shops attached to the major CACT sites. Buying from local makers supports the island economy and leaves the protected landscapes intact.
For anyone with genuine scientific or educational interest in the geology of the island, the appropriate route is to contact the Cabildo’s environment department in advance and apply for the relevant research permissions. Universities, schools and research institutions regularly conduct authorised geological work in the protected areas, and the framework exists to allow that work to happen without compromising the landscapes.
The message from the authorities is straightforward. Walk on the marked paths. Leave the rocks where they are. Take pictures rather than samples. Report any damage seen in protected areas to the environmental services. The vast majority of visitors to Lanzarote treat the volcanic environment with respect. The minority who do not are the reason the enforcement framework exists, and the framework is gradually catching up with them.
