A video recorded last Thursday in the west of Madeira exposed an incident in Fanal involving visitors entering a protected area without permission. The footage, filmed by a local safari guide, showed a group of tourists, including young children, deliberately crossing a barrier to reach a delimited green space marked as off-limits. The act caused vandalism and left the fence structurally damaged. In response, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) sent staff to the site by the following morning to repair and replace the barrier. The IFCN then issued a strong reminder that access signs and restrictions must be respected. It said the fences are essential to protect fragile habitats, preserve the ecosystem, and keep visitors safe on authorised, monitored paths. The incident highlights the continued difficulty of limiting human impact in Madeira’s sensitive natural areas and the shared responsibility of visitors and authorities to protect them.
