A video recorded last Thursday in the west of Madeira showed a group of tourists, including young children, deliberately crossing a protective barrier to enter a delimited green space in Fanal that was marked off-limits. The footage was captured by a local safari guide and quickly highlighted concerns about visitor behaviour in one of the area’s protected zones. The incident caused vandalism and structural damage to the existing fence, prompting an immediate response from the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN). By the following morning, IFCN employees were already on-site replacing and repairing the barrier. The IFCN then issued a strong reminder that signs and access rules must be respected. It stressed that the fences are essential to protect fragile habitats, preserve the ecosystem, and keep visitors safe by directing them along authorised, monitored paths. The episode was presented as a clear reminder that both visitors and authorities share responsibility for safeguarding Madeira’s natural landscapes.
