Environment

Smart sustainability drives 4th Save Posidonia Project Forum, 24—25 September

Wednesday, 08 September 2021 12:42

cartell 2021 forum SPP a In press conference today, Consell de Formentera president and tourism chief Alejandra Ferrer offered early details about the fourth Save Posidonia Project Forum, due to unfold on the island 24 and 25 September, as well as a new promotional and educational push dubbed ‘Let's keep our big secret' (Conservem el nostre gran secret). According to Ferrer, the 2021 forum, focused on reactivating tourism and protecting Formentera through smart sustainability, is “a space for showcasing ideas and exchanging experiences”. And she highlighted an aim shared by those taking part in SPP Forum: “To help Formentera down a path toward sustainability during a difficult year and amid ever growing strain on the island”.

At the presentation President Ferrer spoke about SPP Forum’s origins, describing the original driving impulse as protecting natural resources like Posidonia oceanica seagrass. But she emphasised the need to keep the initiative relevant, and applauded the individuals and businesses who have paid to sponsor over 250,000 m2 of posidonia since SPP Forum’s 2017 début.

New campaign
Designed by communications firm Viernes and backed by the Formentera Office of Tourism, ‘Let’s keep our big secret’ marks an attempt to educate around the key role of posidonia seagrass and why protecting it is so crucial. The campaign spotlights an inter-generational selection of islanders who share messages like preserving the air-purifying seagrass by not anchoring watercraft directly on top of it and by fishing responsibly.

Donations received since 2019 have enabled the Formentera Office of Environment to fund and coordinate ‘Antroposi’ —a project stewarded by the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA)— as well as an environmental diagnostic study of moorage on Formentera's coastline by the local environmental campaigners at GEN-GOB. With €90,000 in funding, the two projects were completed and presented to the public this year. The most recent call for proposals saw honours go to the University of the Balearic Islands for ImPeFora — a €112,000 analysis of the impact of emerging pollutants on posidonia.

Apart from numerous international experts in sustainability technology who are scheduled to contribute as speakers, in attendance at this year’s SPP Forum will be fifty journalists from a wide range of countries — “which should help to give voice to our secret and raise awareness about the importance of territorial preservation”, said President Ferrer.

Save Posidonia Project Forum

- Friday 24 September:
The first day will be divided into three segments. First up is a welcome address and opening remarks in which President Ferrer will lay out a roadmap for the year ahead and highlight findings from fieldwork completed during the Posidonia Mediterranean Network event which immediately preceded SPP Forum.

The second segment, ‘Smart sustainability: protecting Posidonia’, combines working groups and talks where experts address the present, future, new innovative models of ecological sustainability and success stories pairing technology with sustainability.

That same afternoon, the third segment, ‘Carbon Neutral Islands’, addresses local emissions and possible solutions, and concludes with a round-table dedicated to the leaders of the future of sustainable tourism and the closing event.

- Saturday 25 September:
Volunteer activities form the basis of day two: a cleanup of S'Estufador beach (9.30am) and guided visit of posidonia meadows, including boat trip, environmental explanations and diving activity.

The complete SPP Forum programme is available here.

8 September 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Consell prepares Noise Plan and Acoustic Map of Formentera

Thursday, 02 September 2021 11:12

The Formentera Office of Environment is pleased to report it has begun developing the Municipal Action Plan on Noise, the Acoustic Map and the Local Zoning Plan for Noise with the aim of preventing and controlling noise pollution on the island.

Environment chief Antonio J. Sanz insisted the plan would be “a filip for quality of life and our local environment”, not to mention put the island on the right side of European, state and regional regulations on noise pollution.

Rollout of the plan is divided into three phases: preparation of the noise map and acoustic zoning; drafting of the Municipal Acoustic Action Plan; revision of the current Municipal Noise Ordinance and designation of Special Noise Protection Zones (ZPAE). The island’s singularity means maps will be differentiated for the high and low season.

Sanz called the map “an essential tool to understand how sound and noise work on Formentera” and “key to monitoring the levels our local population is exposed to”. Sanz added that the tool should be made available to the public, and that it could “help inform decision-making in urban planning and the economy, opening the door to new environmental sustainability policies”.

Field workers began parsing the Formentera Plan for Land this July to collect and analyse data on noise caused by rubbish pickup, road and beach cleaning, public transport and vehicle traffic, which was previously unmeasured.

The Acoustic Plan and Noise Map have been contracted out to UTE Mer Formentera for €36,481.50 and are on track for completion in 16 months.

2 September 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

In 2021, Formentera’s July waste surpasses 2019 figures by 7.8%

Tuesday, 10 August 2021 10:44

cartell 2021 per una illa mes The Formentera Department of Environment reports that this past July islanders generated nearly 8% more waste than the same month in 2019. Total collection for the period stood at 1,373 tonnes (t), compared to 1,273 t two years prior. Meanwhile, the municipal cleaning contractor logged a running count from January to July of 4,559 t compared to 4,791 t for the same period in 2020. And, focusing on July alone, crews collected a total of 1,094 t — 25.5 t more in 2021 than in 2020.

Improved day pickup and checks

Environment chief Antonio J. Sanz explained that increased output since July meant expanded pickup needs at midday, since rules require normal grey-bin rubbish to be binned between 8.00pm and 11.00pm. On 5 August alone, the reinforced midday service hauled off a total of 8,300 kg of rubbish.

The Consell asks islanders, tourists and businesses to be mindful of others and use appropriate containers when disposing of waste. Items that are not fit for bins, including MSW whose daytime disposal in bins is prohibited, can be disposed of free of charge at the island’s household waste transfer station, or Deixalleria. The Deixalleria is open Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 1.30pm, and Monday to Friday afternoons, 3.30pm to 5.30pm. The pickup service for household appliances and furniture can be reached by dialling 900 102 656.

In 2021, Formentera unveiled an educational push called ‘For a cleaner island’, together with reinforced inspections, to encourage the correct use of bins.

Disposal times at streetside bins:
MSW and similar rubbish: 8.00pm to 11.00pm. [Dumping outside these hours is punishable by fine.]
Glass: 8.00am to 11.00pm. [Dumping outside these hours is punishable by fine.]
Paper, cardboard, packaging, clothes, etc.: any time.

Door-to-door pickup at businesses:
Summer: daily, 8.00pm to 4.00am.
Winter: Sunday to Friday, 8.00pm to 4.00am.
Es Pujols, summer (1 June to 30 September): daily, 8.00pm to 11.00pm.

10 August 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

Coming soon: Formentera’s first car park with solar panel-equipped pergola

Friday, 20 August 2021 10:33

foto 2021 pergola fotovoltaiques The Formentera Department of Environment is working to craft a pergola fitted with photovoltaic panels and five double recharge stations in the Antoni Blanc Sports Centre car park. The unique, 260-panel structure is expected to generate 134,486 kWh each year — clean energy that will either be fed back into the pergola’s five recharge points or used by the nearby fitness centre. According to data from the Consell’s energy portal, the Antoni Blanc Sports Centre uses 231,984 kWh of energy each year. Put another way, the net energy from the solar-equipped pergola will essentially cover half of the facility’s energy needs.

The project has currently secured funding to the tune of €238,000, including a recently granted €185,000 from the Balearic Department of Energy Transition. The latter was secured as part of the impost de turisme sostenible (ITS), or “sustainable tourism tax”, designed to promote sustainable tourism. The work will be put to tender in September; the pergola is expected to go up in winter and to be operational by 2022.

Environment chief Antonio J. Sanz welcomed news of the grant’s approval, insisting it was key to “creating a local source of clean energy”. “We live in an ideal place for green policies”, said Sanz, “and the Consell works hard to promote initiatives like this one”.

Councillor Sanz said a new energy portal on the Consell de Formentera website serves to “temper, readjust and reduce Formentera’s energy consumption and turn the local focus toward eco-friendly ways to produce energy”.

In 2019 island decision-makers signed the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy — a pledge to hit EU targets for greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

20 August 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

200 traps to catch pine processionary butterflies

Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:45

foto 2021 trampes B The Consell de Formentera and Balearic Healthy Forests Service are pleased to make available to the public 200 traps to capture the pine processionary butterflies (Thaumetopoea pityocampa). Interested parties can request them at the Formentera Department of Environment at Carrer de Mallorca (15, Sant Ferran de Ses Roques) or by calling 971 32 12 10 (ext. 1).

The traps use pheromones to attract male butterflies and capture them, which in turn reduces the population of fertile males that can inseminate females. It is recommended they be installed in the first half of August, before the butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.

The insect was detected for the first time on Formentera in 2007 and was declared a plague in 2016. In recent years actions taken in an attempt to control the processionary have consisted in eliminating the bags which the caterpillars weave during the winter; capturing butterflies with traps; installing refuge boxes to encourage presence of chiroptera; aerial dustings and periodic ground treatment.

The pine processionary is a defoliating insect that feeds on the leaves of the native Balearic pine (Pinus halepensis). The insect does not itself kill the trees it defoliates, rather it leaves them more sensitive to drought or attack from scoliid insects which can eventually cause death.

Pine processionaries can also cause dermatological and allergic damage to people and animals as a result of the stinging hairs it has on the dorsal part of its abdomen. Balearic Healthy Forests Service remind the public that complete information is available on the website sanitatforestal.caib.es.

5 August 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera