Published 16 June 2026 | Nature & Environment

TL;DR: The management report for 2025 highlights key conservation efforts at Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, including new bans on jet skis in marine areas, ongoing ecosystem restoration, and improved public facilities, alongside a tribute to a pioneering environmental leader.

Cabo de Gata-Nijar Park Advances Environmental Protections with Jet Ski Ban and Restoration Projects

Jet Ski Prohibition in Marine Zone to Reduce Noise Pollution

The governing board of Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park has approved the 2025 management report, confirming decisive steps to protect its natural habitats. Starting summer 2026, jet skis will be banned from the park’s 12,000-hectare marine area stretching one nautical mile offshore. Manuel de la Torre, the local Sustainability and Environment delegate, explained this move aims to cut noise pollution that disturbs wildlife and detracts from visitor experience in this pristine environment. This is a significant step in maintaining the park’s high environmental quality by limiting noisy watercraft in sensitive coastal waters.

Expanded Marine Protection Through Navigation Restrictions

Alongside the jet ski ban, 103 buoys have been installed to mark zones where sailing and motor boating are prohibited, primarily to safeguard coastal habitats. These measures are designed to organise public use more effectively, prevent environmental degradation, and enhance safety on protected beaches. De la Torre emphasized that these actions share the common goal of preserving shorelines while balancing human activity with ecological needs. The signage improvements and enhanced infrastructure for visitors complement these conservation efforts.

Restoration of Key Ecosystems and Former Mining Sites

The report highlights progress on habitat restoration projects throughout 2025, such as dune conservation in Mónsul and Los Escullos, preservation of Playa de los Muertos, and protection efforts around the Arrecife de las Sirenas. Significant investment has been directed toward reviving the Salinas de Cabo de Gata wetland ecosystem, with nearly one million euros allocated to the initiative. Environmental technician Javier Navarro noted the success of restoring degraded landscapes, including rehabilitation of old quarries like Bemisa and Los Trancos, which have resulted from a cooperative approach between mining concession holders and regional authorities. Restoration works continue with upcoming projects planned, such as the Julia quarry.

Enhanced Monitoring, Education, and Community Engagement

The park’s management also spotlighted extensive work conducted by environmental agents, who reinforced surveillance during the busy summer months to control unauthorized camping and parking. These efforts, carried out with police and civil guard coordination, help maintain order and protect the natural resource. In educational outreach, the park hosted 115 events attracting over 7,000 participants, featuring programs to connect people with nature like “Nature and You” and “Nature for Everyone.” The Botanical Garden and Visitor Centres supported conservation awareness, while ongoing wildlife monitoring tracked local bird populations and marine species. The park remains active in numerous international networks, strengthening collaboration on habitat protection at regional and European levels.

Honouring a Key Figure in the Park’s History

During the meeting, the board agreed to name the main bird observatory at the Salinas de Cabo de Gata after Hermelindo Castro, affectionately known as “Melo.” As the provincial director of the Environment Agency in the 1980s and 1990s, Melo was instrumental in establishing the network of natural spaces in the province and is widely regarded as a founding figure of the Cabo de Gata Park. Diego Valera, head of the governing board and university professor, praised this tribute as a fitting recognition aligned with ongoing restoration work that is reviving the park’s iconic observatories. This acknowledgement celebrates Melo’s long-standing impact on conservation in the region.

The 2025 report reflects a year marked by active restoration, strengthened protection rules, and growing community involvement, underscoring Cabo de Gata-Nijar’s role as a leading example of sustainable natural area management in Andalusia.

For updates on protected areas, wildlife, beaches, water and environmental issues, explore our latest Nature & Environment coverage.

Published 15 June 2026 | Nature & Environment

TL;DR: Almeria experiences scattered showers due to a passing DANA storm, but temperatures are set to rise sharply this week, with some areas expecting highs near 40°C by the weekend.

Almeria Braces for Heatwave After Brief Rain Showers from DANA Storm

Short-Lived Showers Mark the Arrival of the DANA Storm

Almeria province is feeling the effects of the DANA (Depression Atmosphere in Isolated Layer) weather system on Monday, with scattered showers mainly in the mountainous areas. However, the rain is set to ease as the day progresses and will gradually disappear throughout the week. While some parts of Andalusia face storm warnings, Almeria has so far largely escaped the more intense thunderstorm activity that authorities had anticipated for early in the week.

Temperatures Gradually Climb Throughout the Week

As the unsettled weather subsides, temperatures across Almeria are expected to rise steadily from Tuesday onward. Monday sees highs reaching 34°C in inland towns such as Albox and Huercal-Overa. Coastal areas enjoy milder warmth, ranging from 25°C in Adra to around 30°C in Carboneras and 27°C in the provincial capital. Nighttime lows remain pleasantly warm but moderate, with the capital experiencing tropical nights around 21°C.

By Tuesday, minimum temperatures increase further in inland areas, nearing 22°C, while daytime highs climb most noticeably around Almeria city. The rest of the region sees little change initially but follows the warming trend as the week goes on.

Inland and Coastal Zones Both Head Toward High Heat

Midweek conditions show a clear warming pattern, with highs of 36°C recorded in locations like Gador and Viator, 35°C in Huercal-Overa, and 34°C in Tabernas. Generally, temperatures surpass 30°C both inland and on the coast, except for western coastal spots like Adra which remain cooler around 27°C.

The heat is expected to plateau briefly before climbing even higher as the weekend approaches. By Saturday, areas near the capital – including Gador, Viator, and Tabernas – will see temperatures close to 40°C, while the city of Almeria will warm to about 35°C. This day coincides with a local football match between Almeria’s team and Malaga CF, potentially making for a hot day both on and off the pitch.

Weekend Forecast Points to a Potential Heatwave

The latest forecasts signal a further temperature increase on Sunday that could push some parts of the province to reach 40°C. Gador and Viator, in particular, are expected to hit this peak, while Almeria city itself will rise to a high of 36°C with nighttime lows around 26°C, marking one of the season’s first true tropical nights.

Elsewhere inland, towns such as Albox and Nacimiento anticipate highs in the range of 37°C, with minimum temperatures remaining above 20°C across much of the province. Castilla’s residents and visitors are advised to prepare for overheating conditions and take appropriate measures to stay hydrated and avoid sun exposure during the hottest parts of the day.

Planning Ahead: Staying Safe in Rising Temperatures

With the rapid shift from occasional showers to high heat, locals and visitors alike should monitor daily weather updates. The regional weather agency has indicated that this warmth is part of a broader pattern of above-average temperatures for southern Spain this week. Protective strategies such as seeking shade, wearing light clothing, and scheduling outdoor activities for cooler morning or evening hours will be essential to navigate the heat comfortably.

The brief rain brought by the DANA storm offers only temporary relief, so preparing for the coming heatwave remains a priority for Almeria as summer intensifies.

For updates on protected areas, wildlife, beaches, water and environmental issues, explore our latest Nature & Environment coverage.

Published 04 May 2026 | Nature & Environment

TL;DR: Brown bear fossils found in a hidden cave in the Sierra de Gador reveal that Almeria once had a cooler, greener landscape capable of supporting large mammals.

Hidden cave in Almeria reveals Spain’s oldest brown bear fossils

High in the rugged slopes of the Sierra de Gador, between Felix and Dalias, a little-known cave is quietly changing how scientists understand the deep history of southern Spain.

Inside the Cueva de los Burros, researchers have confirmed the presence of brown bear fossils dating back between 400,000 and 500,000 years. That makes them the oldest known brown bear fossils in Spain and among the earliest evidence of the species anywhere in Europe.

It is a discovery that forces a simple but striking realisation: half a million years ago, this part of Almeria looked nothing like it does today.

When Almeria was a very different landscape

Today, much of the province is defined by dry hills, semi-arid conditions and sparse vegetation. But the presence of these brown bear fossils tells a completely different story about the past.

These animals require cooler climates, access to water and enough vegetation to sustain large populations. Their presence suggests that the Sierra de Gador once supported a far richer ecosystem, with forests and conditions more similar to northern Spain than modern-day Almeria.

The cave itself sits on a north-facing slope overlooking the Campo de Dalias, a position that would have helped preserve moisture and vegetation in prehistoric times.

For researchers, this is more than a fossil find. It is direct evidence of long-term climate shifts that reshaped the entire region.

A discovery decades in the making

The story of the cave is almost as interesting as the fossils themselves.

The first bone fragments were discovered decades ago by local speleologist David Martinez when he was still a teenager. At the time, the find did not receive the scientific attention it deserved.

Interest in the site returned years later, in 2016, when Martinez revisited the cave with environmental officers. This time, the importance of the discovery was recognised and documented, allowing proper scientific study to begin.

The remains were later transferred to the University of Almeria’s scientific collections centre, where they could be preserved and analysed in detail.

What the brown bear fossils reveal

Further analysis, including work carried out by specialists from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, confirmed both the age and significance of the fossils.

The remains belong to the brown bear (Ursus arctos), a species still found today in parts of northern Spain and Europe. Their age places them firmly in the Middle Pleistocene, a period marked by major climatic fluctuations.

These brown bear fossils provide rare evidence of how large mammals once lived in southern Spain under very different environmental conditions.

This makes the Sierra de Gador site one of the key reference points for understanding how wildlife adapted to changing environments on the Iberian Peninsula.

Why the cave remains off limits

Despite its importance, the Cueva de los Burros is not open to the public. There are no official trails, signs or visitor facilities leading to the site.

This is intentional. Sensitive archaeological and paleontological sites are often kept unmarked to prevent damage, looting or accidental destruction.

For now, the cave remains a protected scientific location rather than a tourist attraction.

A hidden layer of Almeria’s identity

For residents and visitors, the idea of brown bears once roaming the hills above Dalias can feel surprising. Yet it adds another layer to Almeria’s identity — one that goes far beyond beaches, greenhouses and desert landscapes.

The discovery of these brown bear fossils is now considered one of the most important paleontological finds in Almeria province.

The province is not only shaped by recent history, but also by deep geological and environmental changes that continue to be uncovered.

Discoveries like this remind us that the landscape we see today is only a snapshot in a much longer story.

Final thoughts

The hidden cave in the Sierra de Gador may never become a place you can visit, but its significance is undeniable.

It reveals a version of Almeria that no longer exists — a cooler, greener landscape capable of supporting large mammals like the brown bear.

And in doing so, it offers something rare: a direct connection between the dry hills of today and a prehistoric world that once looked completely different.

Curious about Almeria’s landscapes, wildlife and environmental changes? Explore more stories in our Nature & Environment section.