A dozen officers deployed a special operation at dusk to redirect those accessing exclusion zones or restricted use areas of the nature reserve back to authorized trails
The Gran Canaria Island Council reinforced surveillance this Friday in the Maspalomas Dunes Special Nature Reserve during one of the busiest times for visitors. The operation involved agents from the Environment Department , the Civil Guard 's Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) , the Canary Islands Police , and the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Local Police.
The operation also included a drone unit from the Local Police. The focus was on informing people passing through restricted areas and directing them to designated paths, with the aim of reducing the impact on the flora and fauna of the protected area.
Since August 26th, surveillance has been complemented by a new public address system installed at the Mirador de las Dunas viewpoint . Every 15 minutes, the system broadcasts messages in Spanish, English, and German reminding visitors of the obligation to use only authorized trails and to respect conservation guidelines.
The public address system operates from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. and from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., coinciding with sunrise and sunset. According to sensors from the Impulsa Maspalomas project , approximately one thousand people pass through the area daily during these times.
The island councilor for the Environment, Raúl García Brink , indicated that the initiative is in its pilot phase and requested the cooperation of residents and tourists to protect this particularly fragile area. He stated that the conservation of this space also depends on the responsible behavior of those who visit it.
