MARBELLA town hall has finally creaked into action to protect the endangered Artola dunes – but many are still under threat. Officials agreed to preserve the dunes – a rich eco-system alongside Cabopino beach – which were declared a natural monument in 2003.
Some 500,000 euros have been made available to accompany the 1.7m euros set to be invested by Junta environment chiefs. Plans are afoot to create special walkways across the dunes and remove the roadways as well as replant the 71,250m2 area. However, the Barronal de la Morera dunes are still facing destruction.
Some 152 homes are still set to be built on two-thirds of the beach, despite the threat to some of Anda-lucia’s most endangered birds.
Hopes were raised when Marbella’s ruling Partido Popular (PP) hinted that it may make an about turn to protect the coastline.
Criticised
The Izquierda Unida has heavily criticised the PP for initially agreeing to the construction.
Over 2000 complaints were received by the town hall after the development got the original go-anead. Biologists at Malaga University and the Spanish ornithology society (SEO) have long emphasised the environmental importance of the dunes.
The zone surrounding the dunes is abundant in small migratory birds as well as insects and reptiles.
