The sand dunes of Marbella are now officially protected after being declared a Reserva Ecológica (ecological reserve) by the Junta de Andalucía regional government.
The dunes, which we consider as ‘our’ dunes since they are located at only 800 metres from our office, stretch along the coast from Río Real as far as Puerto Cabopino, are recognised as the best preserved in the province of Málaga. Located at the beaches of Río Real, La Adelfa, Alicate, El Barronal, El Arenal, Real de Zaragoza, Elviria, La Víbora and Las Golondrinas, the dunes join the already protected reserve at Cabopino to be known collectively as the ‘Monumento Natural Dunas de Artola,’ covering more than 220,000m2.
Although they are now protected, the new status of the land does allow for some development; namely children’s playgrounds, cafés and outdoor ‘classrooms’ for educational purposes, said Marbella’s Councillor for Sustainability, Miguel Díaz. He added that it was hoped that the dunes, with their unique flora and wildlife, would become a focus for ‘green’ tourism.
Marbella council will be responsible for drawing up a plan called Las Dunas de Marbella to realise the area’s leisure potential while protecting the natural environment—wooden walkways are already being built to improve access while shielding the dunes from overuse and erosion.
Endangered species make a return
The ecological reserve includes dunes that separate some of the most sought after areas of Marbella from the beaches, providing not just a nature reserve but also natural coastal protection from winter storms. In recent years the work of the voluntary Pro Dunes Association, in conjunction with local schools, has seen many of these areas not just preserved but restored to their original state, with invasive vegetation being removed and replaced with native species. This work has seen the return of endangered birdlife, including the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and the Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae) as habitats and ecosystems recover.
The news comes just a few months after the sea off the coast of nearby Calahonda was designated a marine reserve due to its unique flora and fauna and shows how seriously the governing authorities are taking their responsibility of safeguarding the coastal environment.
Homes in a natural environment
Slightly further inland, much of the pine and oak forest characteristic of the area is also protected, meaning new property developments are increasingly designed to fit into the natural surroundings with controls on environmental impact applied.
It means homes in Elviria, Las Chapas, Los Monteros and other east Marbella areas are being built in a sustainable way, with the emphasis on low density but high quality projects that see villas hidden amongst pine groves, and low level apartment developments leaving room for nature.