The Board of Directors of the Penyal d'Ifac Nature Park, which met this week, informed about the imminent implementation of the pre-registration to visit the park with a maximum capacity of 300 people per day. This measure responds to questions of a conservative and protectionist nature of the ecosystem and is not motivated by the restrictions imposed by COVID.
In fact, the Board of Directors has already expressed its concern in 2017 about controlling access to the park in view of the large influx of visitors, which could alter the rock ecosystem. At that time, an exceptional measure was taken to prevent access when 300 people were in the park at the same time (from the entrance to the summit). The trend of increasing numbers of visitors forced more restrictive measures to be taken, such as the setting of an upper limit for daily visits, which is now set at 300 people/day.
The same reservation system was therefore created as already exists and works successfully in the Montgó Natural Park, in Cova Tallada: Interested parties can access the Park's website and request a nominal reservation for a certain number of people several days in advance (3 or 4). It is possible for someone to enter the park without booking in advance: if the number of 300 reservations for that day is not reached, a permit is issued on the spot and the visitor can enter the park; however, if the number of bookings has already been reached, the permit is not issued. Bookings for schools or other types of guided tours (which do not go through the tunnel), which are usually announced well in advance, have their own registration procedure.
The Presidium also discussed the revision of the agreement with the MARQ to allow the establishment of a museum or permanent exhibition of the remains found in the Pobla d'Ifac site in the Park. At the meeting, the representatives of MARQ stressed the fact that in the enclave of the rock there is an extraordinary confluence between nature and historical heritage which is very difficult to find. All participants in the meeting showed their interest in highlighting and promoting this mixed heritage.
The Board also reported on its desire to extend the marine area of the park in ZPIP 5 (Protected Zone of Fisheries Protection Interest) between El Mascarat and Moraira and the maritime-terrestrial public area opposite it, including the Calpe salt mines. An ambitious extension of the rock maritime protected area, which extends from Mascarat to the port of Moraira, is planned. For this reason, representatives of the Benissa and Teulada-Moraira town councils have been invited, with the participation of the Mayor of Benissa and the Teulada-Moraira Environment Council. Such an extension would mean a restriction of maritime activities which could cause damage to the Neptune grasses or other species threatened with extinction. As regards the salt flats, it was reported that parliamentary procedures for their inclusion in the nature park have already begun.
At this week's meeting it was reported that the degraded land next to the Tossal de la Figuereta, which currently serves as a car park although it is within the nature park, has been closed to motor traffic and will soon be the subject of regeneration work to create a garden of indigenous plants. The opening of the old Puerta a Villa Madrid has also been proposed as an access to the Nature Park for public use of the area where regeneration and regeneration works are currently being carried out by the Park Brigade. The area where Villa Madrid was built was completely degraded by the debris from the demolition of the house. The area has been regenerated by planting indigenous species of trees and it has been restored for walking with signs indicating the authorized paths.
The Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park's Board of Directors, chaired by Guillermo Sendra, is made up of all the administrations that have an influence on the park: The town of Calp, represented by the Mayoress, Ana Sala, and the Environmental Technician, the Regional Ministries of Environment and Culture, the Environment and Culture and Heritage Sectors of the Provincial Council, the MARQ, the General Directorate of the Coasts, and representatives of Calp civil society (representatives of environmental associations, climbing, traders, hotel companies, etc.).