The Gran Canaria Island Council protects 14.000 cubic meters of sand and restores 85% of the degraded dune front thanks to the Masdunas II project.

The Masdunas II project, promoted by the Gran Canaria Island Council through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge, has successfully protected more than 14.000 cubic meters of sand and restored 85% of the degraded dune surface most exposed to climate change and tourist pressure in the Maspalomas Dunes Special Nature Reserve.

 

 

The progress of this second phase of the Masdunas project (2021–2025) was announced today during a visit to the natural environment attended by the President of the Island Council, Antonio Morales; the Regional Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate, Raúl García Brink; the First Deputy Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Alejandro Marichal, along with other municipal representatives; and the biologist responsible for the Masdunas project and manager of the Maspalomas Dunes Natural Area, Marta Martínez Pérez. Representing the public company Gesplan were the Director of Environment and Climate Change for Las Palmas, Jesús González Navarro; the project coordinator, Migdalia Domínguez; and the person responsible for scientific monitoring, Manuel Viera.

 

During the tour, they symbolically planted four specimens of balancones (Traganum moquinii), which are essential for sand retention.

 

On the sand, the president of the Island Council, Antonio Morales, reaffirmed the Island Institution's commitment to the protection and dissemination of the Special Nature Reserve and also guaranteed the continuity of the Masdunas project, which he described as a "consolidated initiative that is having an extraordinary positive impact on the environment."

 

He also explained that the Masdunas initiatives are complemented by the objectives of the Impulsa Maspalomas project, which includes the signage, digitalization, and sensorization of the natural area, as well as the ecological restoration of the Maspalomas Pond. Furthermore, the wetland is home to various spatial improvement initiatives, including Horizon Natalie, within which the design of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System is being defined in a participatory manner.

 

 

For his part, García Brink noted that "the Masdunas II project represents a clear example of how science, environmental management, and institutional collaboration can converge to restore and protect one of Gran Canaria's most emblematic and fragile ecosystems." "We want this project to continue to be a benchmark in island coastal restoration, combining advanced technological tools, applied science, and environmental education," he stated.

 

During the development of Masdunas II, specific actions have been carried out to restore the sedimentary system through the use of advanced technology, such as Digital Terrain Models (DTM) and photogrammetric flights, which have allowed for precise analysis of the dune field's evolution and effective guidance of interventions.

 

Collaboration with the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council has been key in this phase of Masdunas, particularly in the sand relocation efforts from accumulation areas along the Paseo Costa Canaria to strategic points in the dune system in Playa del Inglés. This project has allowed the transfer of almost 3.000 cubic meters of sand, promoting its natural retention thanks to the installation of new sediment collectors and the planting of sand balers (Traganum moquinii), which contributes to reinforcing the stability of the dune front and preventing sediment loss.

 

Studies carried out on 34,18 hectares of land between 2018 and 2024 reveal a natural displacement of 18.116 m³ of sand into the dune field. The measures adopted have prevented the loss of at least 14.000 m³, particularly strengthening the most vulnerable coastal dune in Playa del Inglés.

 

Environmental restoration and species control

In addition, the project has removed 308 goros (artificial shelters built with stones), removed more than 2.100 m³ of non-native vegetation, and managed 1.150 m³ of invasive exotic flora, which has allowed the area to recover native species and improve local biodiversity.

 

Likewise, stabilizing vegetation has been reinforced with the planting of 1.064 specimens of balancones, a key species for sand fixation. To protect the environment, 5.919 bollards and stakes have been installed or relocated, delimiting sensitive areas and preventing unauthorized traffic through vulnerable areas of the ecosystem.

 

This plan has also strengthened environmental education, with signage in several languages ​​and ongoing scientific monitoring of the effects of the initiatives.

 

Other actions to improve the natural environment

 

The Gran Canaria Island Council is developing other complementary actions to Masdunas in the Maspalomas Nature Reserve to improve the overall ecological status of the protected area.

 

One of these is the study of flora and habitats in the Fataga ravine area, coordinated by Gesplan, which has identified the degradation of priority habitats and the presence of more than 30 invasive alien species. This work has led to proposals for plant restoration and conservation protocols to strengthen the ecosystems associated with the wetland.

 

Furthermore, a specific agreement between Gesplan and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), through the Ecoqua Institute, is currently underway for the biological and environmental characterization of the Maspalomas Pond. This scientific initiative evaluates the impact of invasive species such as tilapia and the blue crab, and seeks to establish sustainable control and management measures through monthly sampling and advanced genetic analysis.

 

Another notable project was the coastal bird monitoring project, developed by SEO BirdLife in collaboration with the Gran Canaria Island Council, which culminated after six months of work with significant achievements in both the scientific and educational fields.

 

During the study period, 2.221 birds belonging to 33 different species were counted. The number of individuals and species remained relatively constant, reflecting the area's good ecological stability.