Fauna and flora in Ibiza
Ibiza's fauna is relatively poor in terms of the variety of species that thrive in the area as a whole. They populate areas that are suitable for nesting, away from tourist areas. A distinction must be made between sedentary birds and migratory birds from Africa and Northern Europe, which choose Ibiza and the Balearic Islands as their nesting grounds every year. Depending on the nature of the habitat, you may see passerines (warblers, goldfinches, blackbirds, hoopoes), waders (flamingos, herons, storks) and water birds (pelicans, gulls). But Ibiza's wildlife also includes the animals of our forests and undergrowth: rabbits, partridges and wild boar. Last but not least, almost all the marine species that inhabit the Mediterranean are to be found along the shores, either on a diving trip or in one of the many restaurants.
On both Ibiza and Formentera, the most beautiful and numerous bird specimens can be found in the ancient salt flats. Ibiza's fauna also includes a wide variety of small lizards and geckos, ranging from bright green to turquoise-blue. In a completely different category, the Ibizan greyhound, or ca eivissenc, is a short-haired, light-colored dog with a striking resemblance to those seen on Egyptian documents from the time of the Pharaohs.
As for flora, like Majorca, Ibiza is still covered by part of its original forest. The island is also home to a wide variety of fruit trees: almond, carob and fig trees, of course, but also palms and bougainvillea. Despite the relatively low relief, trees are omnipresent throughout the island. There are dozens of species of tree, including pine, walnut, juniper, olive and carob. The most common tree in Ibiza is the sabine, a type of pine with a very hard wood that was used in the construction of old farmhouses, often in the form of beams or as a decorative element. Finally, the island's landscapes are dotted with all kinds of wild cacti.
Posidonia, a treasure of the seabed
Posidonia oceanica is not a seaweed, but a flowering plant that adapted from a terrestrial to an oceanic environment almost 100 million years ago. Endemic to the Mediterranean, they form what are known as Posidonia "meadows" or "seagrass beds". Considered true "ecosystem engineers", they play an essential ecological role on the Mediterranean coast. Although they cover a large part of the Mediterranean, the Posidonia meadows concentrated in the Ses Salines nature reserve between Ibiza and Formentera are among the best preserved. A veritable lung of the sea, Posidonia is a major source of oxygenation for the water, which in turn supports the biodiversity of its ecosystem. In fact, it is said that one square metre of posidonia produces more oxygen than one square metre of Amazon rainforest!
The United Nations has proclaimed 2017 the "International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development". It's in this context that the "Save Posidonia Project" was born, a pioneering participatory funding project dedicated to the conservation of Mediterranean Posidonia. Each participant can become the "sponsor" of one square meter or more of Posidonia (€1/m²). The funds raised are therefore entirely earmarked for the preservation of this very special flora.
