Sardinia plundered: 4 tons of sand and shells stolen from beaches in two years

Approximately four tons of sand, pebbles, and shells stolen from Sardinia's beaches have been seized in two years during inspections at Olbia airport alone. Dozens of tourists have plundered the natural sediments, often taking sand and shells from the beaches as souvenirs of their Sardinian vacations, despite regulations prohibiting their collection. This information was provided during the presentation of the "Take Me Back to the Sea" project.

"Take Me Back to the Sea" means returning to nature what has been illegally stolen and raising awareness among residents and tourists about the fragility of Sardinia's coastal ecosystems. Tons of sand, pebbles, shells, and egagropili, seized from the Costa Smeralda near Olbia, have been reintroduced into the environment thanks to a project launched six years ago. A collaboration between the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area, Geasar, the Sardinia Region, ENAC, the Forestry Corps, and the Environmental Protection Agency (in addition to other entities involved in monitoring), which, as mentioned, in the last two years alone has allowed four tons of materials to be returned to their natural habitat.

Today, the latest operation, which took place in recent days on the island of Tavolara, was presented. More precisely, at Cala Tramontana, behind Spalmatore di Terra, the sediments were released into the environment after a thorough geological study . Not all sands are created equal: the seized materials come from different areas of Sardinia and must be analyzed to determine the greatest possible compatibility with the destination site. Therefore, the work of the geologist is crucial, as he studies the composition and provenance to select the most suitable beach for the material's release. "The goal is to safeguard the entire island's coastline ," emphasized Francesco Lai , president of the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area. "Let's not forget that what passes through Olbia airport comes from beaches not only in our area but across Sardinia. Thanks to this project, we are able to return to the environment materials that are essential for coastal stability."

«The message to tourists – it was reiterated – is to preserve our territory, with the hope that one day this project will no longer be necessary» .

"We are truly proud to be part of this project that aims to protect and enhance our natural beauty," explained Geasar's route development manager, Mario Garau . "Olbia airport is often the first and last contact tourists make with Sardinia, and we feel this responsibility deeply. Beyond operational security controls, we strongly believe in communication and passenger awareness."

This team effort also involves the Guardia di Finanza, Polaria, the Forestry Corps , and all those involved in both prevention and control. According to Leonardo Lutzoni , director of the Marine Protected Area, much remains to be done in terms of raising awareness. "Many people take sand and shells away voluntarily, but many do so unknowingly, unaware of the damage they cause to the ecosystem. This is why information is essential ."

Lutzoni also highlighted the importance of the geological studies needed to reintroduce the sediment and the hope of expanding the project to include ports: "It would be interesting to involve the port of Olbia, where a large amount of material is seized, and perhaps in the future all the ports in Sardinia."