“We are not going back. They can contest whatever they want, but the organiation is for the benefit of all,” said today the president of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, reacting to the protest of hikers to the new rules of access to trails, levadas, and veredas in the Region.
The statements were made on the sidelines of the visit, in the early afternoon of today, to the Mega Nativity Scene of Jardim da Serra, a day after a group of hikers and mountain lovers gathered at the beginning of PR2, in FajĂŁ dos Cardos, in Curral das Freiras, in an action of protest against the model that the Executive intends to implement from January 2026.
The initiative was promoted by Jorge Quintal, who accused the Regional Government of limiting the right of residents to enjoy the natural heritage, considering the obligation to register in advance on a digital platform a “blockade to the movement of Madeirans.”
Confronted today with this challenge, Miguel Albuquerque was categorical about the Government’s position. Asked about the possibility of a retreat, he replied only: “No”, immediately adding: “No way”.
The president of the Regional Government argues that the measure aims to organise tourist circulation on pedestrian routes.
Comments regarding the Regional Government’s plans are varied, with some saying that the number of Madeirans who walk on the island’s levadas is residual, while others believe it is a breach of their human rights to be denied general and non-approved access to walks and trails that were built by their forefathers.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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