Adeje Council has voted to support plans to expand and strengthen the protection of the La Caleta–Diego Hernández Site of Scientific Interest, one of the most environmentally important stretches of coastline in South Tenerife.

The motion was approved at this week's council meeting, and calls on the Canary Islands Government and the Tenerife Cabildo to study extending the boundaries of the protected area and creating a surrounding buffer zone to help safeguard it from growing development, tourism and recreational pressures. All political groups voted in favour except Vox, which abstained.

The protected site covers more than 78 hectares and is home to valuable seabird colonies, native plants and wildlife, as well as volcanic cliffs, ravines and other unique coastal landscapes. It is officially recognised as an Ecological Sensitivity Area because of its high environmental value.

Councillors behind the proposal said the current boundaries no longer provide enough protection as visitor numbers and nearby urban development continue to increase. They want technical, environmental and legal studies to examine whether neighbouring unused or degraded land could be restored and incorporated into the protected area.

The proposal also asks for a new peripheral protection zone to be considered, acting as a buffer against future environmental impacts. In addition, the Cabildo has been asked to carry out regular monitoring to assess the pressures affecting the site and guide future conservation work.

The request follows restoration efforts already completed in the area. During 2025, around 750kg of rubbish was removed from the reserve, and 68 environmental offences were recorded. Earlier this year, a €487,000 restoration project improved walking trails, removed invasive species and planted around 3,500 native plants.

Adeje's Councillor for Sustainability, Patricia Paulsen, said around 80% of the municipality already benefits from some form of environmental protection and stressed that any expansion should be supported by detailed technical studies and legal certainty. She also called for more frequent clean-up operations and closer environmental monitoring.

Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga highlighted the ongoing issue of illegal settlements in and around the protected area. While many have now been cleared, he said some had simply moved to nearby ravines, adding that authorities must address both the causes and the environmental impact of these occupations.