Nature park and biodiversity preservation
The erosion of biodiversity in Ibiza is largely related to tourism activity. The change of land use (urbanization), fragmentation of the environment (construction of transport infrastructures), and pollution (waste) have contributed to the degradation and disappearance of natural areas and species. The island has also had to deal with the introduction of invasive exotic species, which has led to the removal of some of these plant species. Protected areas have also been established to preserve ecosystems and to raise awareness among residents and visitors of the beauty and fragility of life.
The Ses Salines Natural Park of Ibiza and Formentera, located between the two eponymous islands, is home to salt marshes. The coastline is made up of vast underwater meadows of posidonia meadows, which are vital for maintaining the natural balance. These plant species produce oxygen, filter water, prevent erosion of the seabed, feed and protect many species. The salt flats are home to a wide variety of resident and migratory birds. The park preserves marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including endemic species, which are also the result of interactions with human activities, namely salt farming. It is part of an area classified in 1999 as a Unesco World Heritage Site under the heading "Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture", which includes archaeological and architectural elements. These include ancient shepherds' huts, a legacy of the island's pastoral past, and water reservoirs, which bear witness to the scarcity of water in the area. These elements of the landscape also keep the memory of a disappeared agricultural activity, which also survives through folklore.
We also mention the Marine Reserve of Freus, also located between Ibiza and Formentera. The Nature Reserve of Es Vedra, Es Vedranell i de los islotes de poniente, southwest of Ibiza, protects both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It is home to the highest point on the island.
An ambitious waste reduction policy
The annual production of waste in the Balearic Islands is estimated at about 800 kg per capita, one of the highest rates in Spain (source www.zerowastefrance.org). This production, linked to the tourist traffic (20 million visitors in 2017) often exceeds the capacity of the waste treatment centers of the archipelago (incinerators). This situation contributes to the plastic pollution of the sea. The Mediterranean, which constitutes 1% of the world's marine waters, concentrates in fact 7% of plastic pollution (source: WWF). Most of the pollution is invisible to the naked eye (plastics in the form of nano and micro particles), and comes from aqueous effluents. Solid plastic detritus is also found on the island, often after rain events. The Balearic Islands also suffer from other sources of marine pollution, and the convergence towards its shores of pollution further away, a phenomenon related to the Ligurian-Provençal-Catalan current.
Beach cleaning campaigns are initiated regularly by environmental protection associations. Faced with these issues, the archipelago has enacted a law in 2019 to reduce waste at source. It commits the Balearic Islands to an approach, pioneer in Spain, of circular economy, associated with quantified objectives. In particular, it bans many single-use plastics containing micro and nano-plastics and water bottles. This law applies to households but also to the hotel, restaurant and event sector. It is accompanied by awareness-raising and financial incentives.
Facing climate change
Ibiza is particularly exposed to climate change. The issue of water could become even more important in a territory that has already had to increase its seawater desalination capacity. The island could experience a greater frequency and intensity of extreme events: droughts, floods, storms. In addition, there is the risk of land submergence (due to sea level rise). The rise in sea temperature leads to the disruption of ecosystems with deleterious effects on plankton and the entire food chain. Consequently, it is the whole of the living world that is threatened. The Mediterranean Network of Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC), which brings together more than 600 researchers, produced a report in November 2020 on environmental risks in the Mediterranean region, intended for scientists and decision-makers. It calls for action to limit global warming and adapt to its effects. In response to the climate emergency, the Balearic government enacted a law in 2018 to establish a low-carbon strategy. This is based on a ban on new diesel cars from 2025, the development of renewable energy (including solar thermal, electric cars) and the closure of thermal power plants by 2035, in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The island also offers opportunities for ecotourism: walking and cycling routes, local products and sobriety in the use of resources. A tourist tax was instituted in 2016, the proceeds of which are aimed at funding environmental projects. In our daily actions, we are also actors of change in favor of the climate and biodiversity. Reasonable consumption of resources (water, energy), adoption of a "zero waste" approach and the choice of products that are not deleterious to the environment (sunscreens without chemical filters) are all examples of an "eco-friendly" stay in Ibiza. Note that a tourist tax was instituted in 2016 in the Balearic Islands, the proceeds of which are intended to finance environmental projects.
