Quote from The Canarian Weekly:-
"The Department of the Environment of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria has issued 120 fines between January and July of this year for trespassing and camping in unauthorized areas within the Special Natural Reserve of the Maspalomas Dunes.
This reserve is one of the island's main tourist attractions and a popular destination throughout the Canary Islands. The number of fines issued this year has multiplied by six compared to the total of 20 fines issued in all of 2022 and has doubled the 60 fines issued in 2021.
These fines have been imposed due to the impact on a natural area with one of the highest levels of environmental protection regulations. The excessive foot traffic outside of the four designated paths leads to damage to the dune ecosystem.
Because of this, the majority of the fines amount to 150 euros for violating the rules displayed in various information points and signage. Additionally, fines exceeding 400 euros have been imposed on audiovisual sector companies (photography, videos, etc.) that have ventured into unauthorized areas for their work without obtaining special prior permits.
The overcrowding of the dunes with tourists, both in summer and winter, is hindering the growth of vegetation in the area, which is crucial for retaining sand in the reserve. The reduced presence of "balancones", common shrubs in the sandy coastal areas of the islands, is being threatened by excessive foot traffic, whether for capturing snapshots of the spectacular sunsets or engaging in less appropriate activities such as "cruising" (public sexual encounters), means that there are fewer natural barriers to sand movement."