Mar Menor environmental group condemns heavy pruning of native palm trees in La Manga

Local residents raise concerns with ANSE after heavy pruning of palm trees at Cala del Pino

An environmental group has criticised the way palm trees have been cut back at Cala del Pino in La Manga, after receiving complaints and photographs from local residents.

The organisation ANSE says the work involved the heavy pruning of mature Mediterranean fan palms (Chamaerops humilis) on the coast of the Mar Menor.

According to the group, the trees affected were well-established and had developed naturally over many years. They say the palms were not just part of the landscape, but also played a practical role, providing shade for people using the beach and shelter for wildlife.

The issue came to light after residents shared images showing the extent of the pruning. In a post on social media, ANSE said the work appeared to have been carried out by a company contracted, reportedly, by Cartagena City Council.

The group says many of the palms have been cut back in a way that significantly changes their natural form, leaving them looking more like ornamental, tropical-style palms rather than native Mediterranean vegetation.

ANSE argues that the intervention has gone too far and has changed the appearance of the trees in a way that is out of keeping with how they would naturally grow.They say the palms have been there for many years and are an important part of the coastline, but their natural shape has now been changed.

ANSE went on to say this is part of a concern that native plants are sometimes being managed more for how they look than for their environmental value.

The organisation is calling for a more responsible approach to managing native plants along the coast, based on environmental and technical criteria rather than aesthetics alone.

They also point out that using and maintaining native species is generally more sustainable in the long term, and often more cost-effective than introducing or shaping ornamental alternatives.

The situation has once again raised questions about how natural spaces around the Mar Menor are being looked after, particularly in areas where tourism, public access, and environmental protection all overlap.

For now, the discussion continues about the balance between keeping public spaces tidy and protecting the natural character of the coastline.

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Images: ANSE