The most emblematic ecosystem in southern Gran Canaria, the Maspalomas Dunes Special Nature Reserve, is entering a new phase of protection. The Directorate General of Coasts and Maritime Space Management has opened for public comment the Island Council's application to launch the "Masdunas III Project," an ambitious environmental restoration plan that will run for the next four years, from 2026 to 2029.
The project, requiring an investment of €2,05 million, aims to consolidate the recovery of an area subjected to constant human pressure. The actions range from the removal of invasive exotic flora to the removal of unauthorized artificial structures that have degraded the landscape. The plan also includes the installation of sand traps and screens to stabilize the coastal dune, a fundamental geological element for the environment's survival in the face of climate change.
The technical intervention focuses on correcting the damage caused by the proliferation of unregulated trails, a problem that fragments the landscape and hinders the natural regeneration of the sand. To curb this degradation, the Island Council will strengthen an active monitoring system, which will include two permanent security guards and the use of drones to track environmental compliance. The goal is to ensure that the exclusion zone and the restricted-use zone maintain their integrity against activities that endanger local birdlife and insects.
The program focuses not only on the physical aspects of restoration but also on environmental education. Information officers will be stationed in high-traffic areas, and an educational program will be implemented for schools and community groups. Scientific monitoring will be another key element of the project, with specialized studies on the morphological evolution of the dunes and the ecological health of the Maspalomas Lagoon, whose management will be supported by agreements with the University and independent experts.
Anyone interested has twenty working days to submit objections to the Eastern Coastal Administrative Service. The file, which is now available for public consultation, details how the actions will be carried out under strict protection regulations, as the area is integrated into both the Canary Islands Network of Protected Natural Spaces and the Natura 2000 Network. The Island Council, through the company Gesplan, seeks with this third phase of Masdunas to ensure that the tourism sector in the south of the island is compatible with the preservation of its greatest natural treasure.
