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Date Published: 19/07/2021
ARCHIVED - Increasing tourism at protected Maro coves in Nerja causes concern amongst eco-experts
The stunning coves located in the province of Málaga are included in the Natural Protected Areas of Andalucía
The Cabinet of Nature Studies in Axarquía (GENA) has requested that the regional government limit the constant flow of tourists to the coves of the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo (Nerja), as the number of visitors is ‘unsustainable’ for the natural area.
GENA sent a formal letter to the regional Ministry of Agriculture, Farming, Fishing and Sustainable Development asking them to intervene, as the eco-experts feel that the local council in Nerja doesn’t do enough to stop tourists from deteriorating the natural space, which is becoming increasingly popular with visitors due to the stunning scenery.
A representative from the Ecological organization stated that the Nerja council is “always pressuring the Junta to conveniently organize the area to accommodate the insatiable expansion of the tourist business”. However, the regional government of Andalucía has always answered that this cannot be “organized by tourist criteria”.
This area is included in the Natural Protected Areas of Andalucía and was also recently included in the European Red Natura 2000 initiative, where the Maro coves were named as a Special Conservation area.
In addition, the area was declared a Specially Protected Area of Importance in the Mediterranean (ZEPIM) in 1998.
Many of the tourism activities, such as paragliding, hang gliding or fishing, which are frequently carried out on these coves are banned by the Plan to Organize Natural Resources and could be harmful to the area, which is why GENA urge the regional and local authorities to increase their vigilance and control the tourism in the area.
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