PROTECTED AREAS IN MENORCA

The network of natural protected areas in Menorca started in 1980’s when the study “Zones d’interès botànic i ecològic de Menorca”, which was written by Maria Àngels Cardona and published by the Insular Council of Minorca. The author points out the areas of the island that should be protected to preserve the natural heritage of Minorca. Luckily, in 1991 a law was passed that declared 19 Natural Areas of Special Interest (ANEI), which cover a 43 % of the island’s territory.

In 1993 Minorca was declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO . because there is an important natural and cultural heritage and our society has accepted an economic development compatible with the conservation of nature. That is to say, the island had and still has sustainable development.

in 1995 the natural park of Albufera d’es Grau was created. It is located in the northeastern part of the island of Menorca and belongs to the municipality of Maó. It is made up of a group of lagoons that are separated from the sea by a narrow passage. This mixture of sea water and fresh water give a level of salinity that makes it have unique ecosystems . This natural sanctuary is also the home of a great variety of birds, some of which are migrating birds and stay there to rest. It also has rich flora and fauna with some endemic species.

In 1999 marine areas were included in the protected areas, when the marine reserves in the north of the Island became protected. The reserve reaches an extension of 5199 hectares of sea and it comprises some unspoilt beaches and coastal cliffs. Fishing is banned as well as any activiy that doesn’t protect the area. . The sea botton , of about forty metres deep, is of high biological importance for the reproduction and preservation of sea species such as the lobster or the sea bass.

In 2003 the Natural Park was enlarged and the islot of Porros, S’Estany, la Bassa de morellla, Es Prat and the islet of Colom were declared natural reserves.

Today the local government and some organisations are fighting to make Illa de l’Aire become Natural Marine and Terrestrial Reserve. It hasn’t been acomplished yet. This islet is only protected by LIC (Place of Communal Interest), ZEPA ( Zone of Special Protection for Birds) and ANEI (Declared natural Areas of Special interest) The insular territorial planning which was passed in 2003 added Rural Areas of landscape value (ARIP) and Natural Areas of local Interest and it also started to fight against one of the main threats that the island has : urban development.

The main characteristic of the Minorcan natural environment is the environmental diversity that exists in just 700 square kilometres. The most important habitats are :

wetlands The ponds, marshes and lagoons are spread out throughout the island and have different flora and fauna. Among the coastal wetlands, there is the nature reserve of albufera de Es Grau, Addaia, Son Saura and Son Bou.

The gullies .One of the most important landscape and geomorphic aspects of the south of the island is the number of gullies that cross it in the direction of the coastline, following a winding route. There are a total of 35 to 40 gullies, although only about a dozen are longer than 3 kilometers and they all offer spectacular landscapes and have a concentration of an abundant and varied flora and fauna, with 220 species, 26 of which are endemic.

The caves .Minorca has some fifty natural land caves and some ten underwater caves, situated in the north and south of the island.

The islets, which are spread out over the Minorcan coastline and are favourable areas for important colonies of species such as the lizard . (Podarcis lifordii) or birds like the falcon. These islets are included in the Natural Areas of Special Interest and have a big protection. The largest one on the coast of Minorca, of almost 60 hectares, is Illa d’en Colom. This is situated in front of the des Grau beach, within the limits of the Nature Reserve. Another important islet is the island of del Aire, of 34 hectares, in which a lighthouse was built.

Dune systems.They have a great importance from the economic point of view , as they are the reserves of sand of the beaches , prevent the erosion when there are storms and have a great diversity of plants and invertebrates There are a total of eight well developed dune systems in Minorca, including that of the Albufera des Grau . Seven of these dune systems are located on the north coast and only one is located on the south coast . There are also various other smaller dune systems .

The beaches. Menorca has impressive beaches, some of which are unspoilt.

Coastal cliffs.The rocky coastline of Minorca is especially important, both from a landscape as well as a biological point of view, as it is home to a vegetation that is very rich in endemic species ., above all in the northern area. The north of the island is wild, with a rugged coastline , and is the home of small plants that are adapted to big waves and salinity and it is where the tallest cliffs of Minorcan coastline are to be found. These areas also house important colonies of marine birds and birds of prey.

The non- agricultural vegetation landscape of the island, which occupies 19,000 hectares with three main types of arboreal vegetation: oak woods,pine woods and wild olive woods. Oak trees are only abundant in the central part of the island , as the pine tree is invanding the woods.

Menorca is an important nature reserve because it is a territory with a big natural heritage