The Junta de Andalucía and Níjar Town Hall have launched a joint crackdown on illegal camping and parking within the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

The local police and environmental officers evicted several motorhomes in a controlled manner this week. They targeted sensitive coastal areas, where the overcrowding reached “unsustainable” heights.

Almeria’s fragile Mediterranean ecosystems are under significant stress due to the growing number of caravans and motorhomes. Salvador Parra is the director of conservation at the park. He warned that illegal dumping leads to soil compacting, destruction of dune plants, and accumulation of waste.

According to the Natural Resources Management Plan for (PORN), and the Master Plan for Use and Management for (PRUG), overnight parking and stays are prohibited in areas not specifically designated. Parra explained that “these measures are necessary to avoid altering local fauna or uncontrolled dumping.”

In the course of their intervention, the authorities temporarily closed the parking lots in El Playazo and Isleta del Moro. These popular locations were found to be “saturated”, with vehicle numbers exceeding their ecological capacity.

The mayor of Níjar, José Francisco Garrido, welcomed the coordination with the regional government, emphasising that the focus is not only on parking control but also on intensified cleaning and waste removal efforts.

For the Junta de Andalucía’s sustainability representative in Almeria, Manuel de la Torre, these measures are not intended to limit access to the park, but “to guarantee sustainable public use that is compatible with conservation.

“The massive and uncontrolled occupation by motorhomes of beaches not only has a negative impact on the environment but also causes problems with mobility, safety, orderly enjoyment and the environment for all visitors.”

Níjar town hall and the Junta de Andalucía have reminded motorhome and caravan users that they must use only the car parks and specifically designated areas, respecting the restrictions and active signposting throughout the park.

The authorities have recalled that the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is one of the most valuable enclaves in the Mediterranean due to the uniqueness of its landscapes, the richness of its biodiversity and the quality of its habitats. The preservation of this natural park depends on the respect for established regulations and indications from the competent authorities. Public cooperation is vital.