The Formentera Office of Environment is pleased to report that over the next two Saturdays, 17 and 24 September, coastal cleanups will be held in Ses Pesqueres Altes (S'Estufador) and Es Carnatge, respectively. The first is organised by Plastic Free Formentera on the occasion of World Cleanup Day and benefits from the collaboration of volunteers at Qué Celeste and the Consell de Formentera, which will provide material for cleaning and rubbish collection. Participants should meet at 9.30am in front of La Mola church and wear appropriate footwear.

The other cleanup session will happen on 24 September in Es Carnatge as part of Qué Celeste Festival. Es Carnatge is one of the areas with the highest concentration of plastics on the island. The Consell de Formentera will provide support for the second session as well, as will volunteers from environmental organisations present at Qué Celeste Festival. A workshop will be held at Es Carnatge beach to raise awareness about microplastics and how they harm the environment. Participants should meet in Cala en Baster at 10.00am and wear appropriate footwear.

14 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Consell de Formentera will reopen Es Pujols beach (Platja des Pujols) to swimmers once yesterday's analysis by Balearic Islands Public Health (Salut Pública de les Illes Balears, SPIB) presents conditions required for swimming. The beach was closed to swimmers after the SPIB laboratory recommended temporary closure based on tests of water quality.

19 August 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Saturday and Sunday evenings, from sunset to the early morning hours the following days, Formentera Local Police (PLF) and Formentera Civil Guard (GCF) performed special patrols to prevent illegal parties in Es Cavall d'en Borràs area of the Ses Salines Nature Reserve.

Friday 29 July, an illegal party took place in that area, though law enforcement received no word until the following day, when agents learned about it through videos posted to social media. These patrols will continue in the days ahead.

Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, has called for a special meeting so the GCF, Coastal Authority and Office of Environment can coordinate around security and "stop these situations that endanger our fragile reserve and are at odds with the quiet island we want".

According to Josep Marí, councillor of interior, "we have repeatedly asked for greater police presence to keep Formentera safe and take aim at illegal parties in protected public spaces and private homes".

On Saturday night there were two illegal parties in two houses in the area of Cala en Baster. PLF and GCF agents responded to the report. In both cases the PLF cited violations of the municipal environmental and public health ordinance on noise and vibratory pollution.

The Consell de Formentera asks islanders to communicate any indication that a large party is being organised to law enforcement officials. Owners of holiday rentals are also reminded that the Consell has prepared a renters' clause prohibiting nuisance activities, parties and over-occupancy and, if implemented, property owners have more legal security and leeway to act in the event one of these situations occurs. It is available on the Consell de Formentera website here.

1 August 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Offices of Interior and Environment have joined "This summer, keep fires out of the forest" (A l'estiu, ni 1 foc al bosc), a push by the Balearic Government to educate islanders about the period of forest fire risk from 1 May to 15 October.

Josep Marí, councillor of interior, described awareness and prevention measures as "particularly crucial the heat wave and extreme fire risk that we are currently experiencing". The Consell de Formentera wishes to remind islanders of five prevention measures:

Dispose of cigarette butts properly, even if they appear no longer lit.
In the car and on the street, too: cigarette butts belong in the trash.
Keep rubbish far from the forest
Waste such as glass can ignite and cause a forest fire. Dispose of waste properly.
Call 112 if you see a fire
This will quickly activate the related protocol and send response workers to the site.
Review burn authorisations
Due to extreme weather, burn authorisations may be cancelled. Check beforehand.
Turn off machinery if it sparks
When wildfire risk is high, a single spark is all it takes for certain tools to cause a fire.

Fire buffers

Lastly, Councillor Marí reminded islanders living in wooded areas that they are required to make and maintain a safety buffer around the perimeter of their home. This reduces the volume of flammable vegetation and, by breaking its vertical and horizontal continuity, makes it difficult for forest fires to spread. Remove the dry ground-covering layer, selectively clear shrubs, prune trees and, if necessary, remove tree trunks to reduce the amount of vegetation.

Not only is a fire buffer the responsible thing to do, it is a legal imperative set out in various regulations, including Article 77 ("Measures for safe and secure forests in urban-forest interface areas") of Balearic Agrarian Law 3/2019 of 31 January 2019.

21 July 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera