Centre for the recovery and interpretation of fauna and control of invasive species in the Pitiusas islands (Ibiza and Formentera)

The project

In the Pitiusas Islands (the Greek name for called Ibiza and Formentera, islands of pine trees) about 600 wildlife-related alerts are managed annually, including the capture and treatment of injured animals or the management of exotic species. In recent years the volume of inflows has increased, especially due to the presence of invasive species such as snakes and available facilities are no longer sufficient to meet this demand. Many animals therefore have to be transferred for their recovery, a process that is to be avoided by creating a centre in Sa Coma, in the municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu.

The planned centre is conceived as a space where comprehensive care can be offered to wildlife, with refurbished facilities to provide the necessary basic services. Recovery gardens will be adapted with native flora and the creation of a unidirectional visitable itinerary, where the visitors can discover the importance of conserving the fauna and flora of the Pitiusas. 

Control of invasive species

The invasion of alien species is a growing problem in the Pitiusas Islands with a significant impact on local biodiversity and ecosystem health. The project aims to monitor and control Pennissetum (fountain grass), a highly invasive grass, and the snakes Hemorrhois hippocrepis (horseshoe whip snake) and Rinechis scalaris (ladder snake).

Pennissetum colonises degraded areas and roadsides, displacing native flora and altering the balance of local habitats. This project aims to monitor the most sensitive areas in order to prevent its spread and promote its eradication, especially in natural areas. 

The invasive snakes are a direct threat to endemic lizards, symbols of the Pitiusas, and to other protected species. For this reason, the aim is to reduce their density in Eivissa and eliminate them completely in Formentera. 

One of the most outstanding novelties of this project is the desire to involve society in the environmental problems caused by invasive species. Awareness campaigns are to be launched to publicise the dangers that these species pose to local ecosystems and specific actions are to be promoted by the public and the sectors concerned.

Goods entering ports will also be more closely monitored to prevent the introduction of invasive species. Improving these controls is essential to prevent the arrival of new species that could aggravate the situation.

In short, this project seeks not only to improve the management of wildlife and the control of invasive species, but also to promote the conservation of biodiversity in the Pitiusas and contribute to a more sustainable future for the Balearic Islands.