Scientists warn sex tourists cruising on Canary Islands dunes

A group of scientists have revealed the environmental risk associated with 'cruising' in the Canary Islands. Photo / 123rf

Spanish scientists say an area of special conservation is at risk from frisky tourists.

When having a one night stand in the sands of Spain, protection is crucial - but according to a group of scientists, it's the sand dunes you're frolicking on that need safe keeping too.

Sex tourism has long been a massive industry in certain countries and the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain is one of these places. However, the sandy sex antics have reached a breaking point according to local geomorphologists and coastal and dunefield ecologists.

One beach in particular, which is famous for being a gay tourism spot, has been used as a case study by experts from the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and Flinders University. The well-known Gran Canaria, near the Dunas de Maspalomas Special Nature Reserve, illustrates the environmental consequences of 'cruising'.

The study is due to be published next January in the Journal of Environmental Management under the title "Sand, Sun, Sea and Sex with Strangers, the 'five S's'. Characterising "cruising" activity and its environmental impacts on a protected coastal dunefield".

Dr Leví García-Romero, one of the study authors said ecosystem management was critical in protecting the impact humans have on dry dunefields.

In the area of Gran Canaria, the team found that sex sports in places of dense vegetation and 'nebkhas' (vegetated dune hummocks) significantly damaged the landforms and native plants.

Of the 10 plant species found to be impacted, eight were native and 3 endemic to the particular kind of dunes of the Canary Islands.

Dr García-Romero, who works at the ULPGC Institute of Oceanography and Global Change said the issue was less about 'who' was frequenting these spots but rather the environmental impact.

"We have no intention to criticise the actions of some of the LGBTI community," he said.

Flinders University's Professor Patrick Hesp, who co-authored the study similarly said the activity in question wasn't the focus.

"No matter what the human activity, popular coastal tourist locations need to closely monitor ecology and erosion trends," he said.

Hesp also studies dunes in Australia, where he said similar activity has been reported. The trend, according to Hesp calls for better education about the effects of cruising on dune systems.

The researchers said long term consequences would be negative but co-author Dr Luis Hernández-Calvento said the combination of science and action could turn things around.

"Incorporating targeted research with tourist location natural resource management can lead to more sustainable action, particularly in areas of large-scale tourism and fragile ecosystems," he said.

Researchers said continued research would assist clean-up campaigns such as the MASDUNAS environmental project and better waste management.