Posidonie dans les eaux de l'île© Eduardo Jarnac de Freitas - Shutterstock.Com.jpg
Le relief relativement plat de l'île rend les balades à vélo très agréables © Martin Silva Cosentino - Shutterstock.com .jpg

Protected areas and preservation of biodiversity

Formentera has an exceptional biodiversity. The island is home to 40% of the Posidonia meadows in Spain, in a seagrass meadow of over 7,600 hectares. These plants provide valuable ecosystem services, such as oxygen production, water filtration, habitat for many species, and prevention of seabed erosion. The awareness of this precious natural heritage has been accompanied by measures for its conservation. The regulation of anchoring, with the indication of Posidonia meadows on the maps, is an example. Awareness-raising actions are also deployed, such as the multi-partner project Save Posidonia, which aims to combine the preservation of Posidonia meadows and sustainable tourism (www.saveposidoniaproject.org/es/).
The Ses Salines de Formentera Natural Park, located between Formentera and Ibiza, is home to formerly exploited salt marshes. Its coastline, populated by Posidonia meadows, and its salt flats, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The park protects remarkable terrestrial ecosystems including endemic species of lizards and migratory birds. The marine biodiversity of the park is rich, associated in particular with the Posidonia meadows.
The artificialization of land, the fragmentation of natural environments and pollution are other factors of erosion of biodiversity. In order to cope with this, the municipality has put in place regulatory constraints in terms of urban planning, which has greatly limited construction on the island. Access is only by boat. The consular council also promotes active mobility (walking, cycling) with more than 100 km of dedicated routes (see for more information: www.formentera.es/fr/explorer/activites/en-velo/).

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 rainy periods. Beach cleaning campaigns are regularly initiated 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. Formentera is known for its "zero plastic" policy and the composting of bio-waste from its restaurants.

Facing climate change

Formentera, like the archipelago, is particularly exposed to climate change. This could take the form of a greater frequency and intensity of extreme events: droughts, floods, storms, all phenomena that aggravate soil erosion and environmental degradation. In addition, there is the risk of land submergence (due to rising sea levels). 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. A UN report published in December 2020 indicates that we are following a trajectory of +3.1°C on a global scale. 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, LED street lighting) and the closure of thermal power plants by 2035. The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Visitors can also contribute to this strategy. Formentera offers many opportunities for ecotourism (accommodation, catering, mobility). The flat topography of the island, combined with the means available for walking and cycling (bike rental, dedicated routes), make these practices very accessible and enjoyable. It is also possible to be a locavore in Formentera and discover beautiful culinary traditions, based on products promoted by the Slowfood network(www.formentera.es/en/slow-food/), recipes based on fish or local plants. Reasonable consumption of resources (water, energy), adoption of a "zero waste" approach (see: www.zerowastefrance.org) and the choice of products that are not harmful to the environment (sun creams without chemical filters) are all examples of an "ecofriendly" stay in Formentera. Note that a tourist tax was instituted in 2016 in the Balearic Islands, the proceeds of which are aimed at funding environmental projects. To know your footprint on the climate, take the test: datagir.ademe.fr/apps/our-climate-actions/