The Salinas Nature Reserve of Formentera

Posted on March 31, 2009 - Filed Under Travel

The Balearic island, Formentera is named on the Forbes ‘Top Sexiest Islands’ list. Just under a thirty minute boat ride from Ibiza, Formentara has loyal visitors due to the more laid back atmosphere, the sunsets and stunning geography, complete with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. A bit of the ‘party 24/7 attitude of Ibiza will follow one to some of the beaches on Formentera , there is refuge from the craziness and peace on the island. Although the two islands have different personalities, one aspect they do have in common is respect and devotion to nature, and the dedication to preserving the flora and fauna and marine life living on the islands and in the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. The Nature Reserve, titled ‘Salinas de Ibiza and Formentera , was established as a World Heritage site in 1995. Under the organization, European Community Birds Directive, the area is now declared a Special Protection site. Government law requires this.

The land protected now includes all the smaller islands off the coast of mainland Spain in the Mediterranean and coastal lagoons and saltworks of Formentera and Ibiza. The water protected is all of the open sea between the islands, to a depth of 40 miles. This protects not only the mammals and the fish in the sea, but the sea-grass and corral reefs as well. Which in this region, the highest reefs in the world are found. There is plant life endemic to the island, with seven of the eleven species on the list of rare, and eight more are seen as vulnerable and threatened by environmental hazards. One of the very few samples of natural, pine tree forests in all of Europe exists in this now protected region. Many other species are in need of protection here, as the Mediterranean monk seal is on the list of the 12 most endangered mammals in the world. The Balearic Islands have been traveled to and visited due to the knowledge that one may party all night, experience fashionable night life to the extreme with clubs and hotels Formentera and Ibiza provide that excitement, however now, the two islands of Ibiza and Formentera have come together to protect and preserve and create excitement of naturalists and environmentalists as well.

Comments

Leave a Reply

LostHawk