The famous Maspalomas dunes on Gran Canaria are in serious danger of erosion unless the tide of “disrespectful” visitors is turned, environmentalists have warned
Holidaymakers flocking to one of the Canary Islands’ most famous attractions are being hit with hefty fines for breaking strict new regulations.
Conservationists warn that Gran Canaria’s renowned Maspalomas dunes face severe erosion unless the flood of “disrespectful” tourists is stemmed.
Authorities and the island’s administration have ramped up surveillance in the Special Nature Reserve, where thousands of visitors descend weekly, including naturist sunbathers. The site is regarded as amongst the archipelago’s most precious and delicate natural environments.
New initiatives include fitting sensors, digital signage featuring QR codes, information displays and environmental monitoring systems.
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Local authorities have said they hope that people will heed regulations to remain on approved routes, but warned of penalties for those who don’t comply, with fines starting at €150 (approximately £129).
It’s estimated that between 150 to 300 individuals unlawfully enter the dunes every day, venturing into forbidden zones or wandering off marked pathways. Numbers surge at sunset, when as many as 500 visitors can gather on the sand, crushing indigenous plant life and causing local wildlife to perish.
Despite visible warnings, barrier ropes and designated viewing spots, numerous tourists disregard the restrictions purely to snap photos of the scenery. Some tourists have carved giant lovehearts and initials so huge into the sands that these were visible from space.
“Given this situation, the collaboration between the police and environmental officials becomes especially important, not only through deterrent presence and on-site monitoring but also within a broader strategy implemented by the Cabildo (Island Council) to reduce visitor pressure and promote environmental awareness,” said a campaign spokesman.
“The natural wealth of the Maspalomas Dunes justifies this special attention: its unique landscape is home to plant species such as tamarisks, bay sages and everlasting flowers, alongside valuable birdlife, including terns, plovers, kestrels and more than 20 other species that use this ecosystem to nest, both in the dunes and in the pond.”
In 2021, environmentalists pointed the finger at visitors seeking out the dunes for illicit sexual encounters as a major cause of damage. They claimed to have identified 200 “secret sex spots” and blamed these rendezvous for directly impacting the dunes and eight native plant species.
For several decades, the dune system has suffered increasingly obvious degradation with a constant loss of sand, mainly due to urban development processes and human impact, which has altered the dynamics of the wind and the dunes. It is estimated that around 45,000 cubic metres of sand are lost each year that end up at the bottom of the sea.
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Since 2018, the authorities have been working on a major project to protect the dunes.
“It is a benchmark environmental project with the main aim of protecting and conserving the natural Dune area, one of our most important environmental resources and a protected natural space with incalculable ecological value,” said a spokesman for the island’s government.
“For several decades, the dune system has suffered increasingly obvious degradation with a constant loss of sand, mainly due to urban development processes and human impact, which has altered the dynamics of the wind and the dunes. It is estimated that around 45,000 cubic metres of sand are lost each year that end up at the bottom of the sea.
“This has caused an uncontrolled increased in vegetation in the inner zones, reducing the area occupied by the dunes and increasing the erosion, affecting biodiversity and generating a very negative impact on the animals and plants living in the zone. If this situation continues, the dune reserve might disappear in less than a generation.”
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