Menorca biosphere reserve basic data

LOCATION Biogeographic region: West Mediterranean Autonomic comunity: Balearic Islands Municipalities: Alaior, es Castell, Ciutadella, Ferreries, Maó, es Mercadal, es Migjorn Gran, Sant Lluís Management administration: Consell Insular de Menorca Declaration date: 8th October 1993 Widening date: 29th October 2004 Surface: 71.186 ha Core zone: 7 % Buffer zones: 38 % Transition zones: 55 % See zone map Population: 86,697 inhabitants according to year 2006 census (seasonal peaks of more than 150,000)

Menorca is an island of 700 sq kilometre surface and a coast length of 200 km. It is divided into eight municipalities with a steady population of 85,000 inhabitants. Tourism has become over the past decades its main economic resource: this fact explains seasonal population variations with peaks as high as 160,000.

Menorca is the most northern and most eastern of all Balearic islands, it’s the most rainy one (nearly 600 mm per year) an receives standing winds. Its shape is long and slightly rectangular, with a maximum length og about 53 km. The landscape is gentle undulated: its highest point is 358 m (el Toro).

UNESCO declared Menorca a biosphere reserve the 8th October 1993 taking into account the high compatibility between the island economic activities, the use of resources and the preservation of its landscape and inheritance, both of an exceptional quality. Menorca is a highly domesticated territory with a rural landscape with different and remarcable mediterranean habitats where live unique animals and plants, some of them in danger of extinction.

All over the world there are more than 400 biosphere reserves where sustainable development is being tested. In these places human activity is developed in a well balanced way with the the keeping of natural resources and the preservation of cultural inheritance. Menoca belongs to the Spanish Biosphere Reserves Net and is linked to other reserves attached to the UNESCO program Home and Biosphere (a MaB program). Menorca biosphere reserve is twinned with the Lanzarote one (Canary Islands).

The Consell Insular de Menorca is the administration responsible for the reserve. The Consell believes that the sustanaibilty character is the suitable means if future generations are to enjoy the natural resources and the beauty of landscape as they are nowadays. Therefore, actions involving ground are done in a cautious way, making possible in the long run the keeping of life quality and the environment values that have deserved the UNESCO rating. The biosphere reserve challenges are the following ones:

• To enhance activities that preserves a traditional landscape and to avoid activities that could deteriorate it. The Pla Territorial Insular (PTI), has been approved having this goal in mind. The plan rearranges the island territory imposing limits to building areas and promoting agrarian contracts.
• To enhance the conservation of natural ecosystems and the native flora and fauna, especially the threatened ones. For this purpose campaigns for the eradication of invading flora are regularly undertaken so as campaigns for the protection of threatened species and for the protection of unique habitats like, for example, the temporary ponds.
• To study in depth the island natural and cultural richness. Research on the archeologic and natural inheritance is carried to this purpose.
• To define local sustainability strategies. Each municipality has a Local Agenda 21 of its own and its Environmental Action plan.
• To manage the coast from an environmental point of view, and more especially the , because they are the base of turistic activity. Special care is provided to sand dunes and sea ecosystems. Manual cleaning is given priority, and the beach ground use is regulated.
• To lessen the environmental impact of daily human activities. Each trash fraction is collected and treated in a separate way: organic, scrap, paper, glass and packages.
• To become a sustainability open air laboratory. The Menorca Social and Environmental Observatory (OBSAM) has been founded: it collects and analyse the most outstanding information on the biosphere reserve.

With the cooperation of Menorca society, we have looked for environmental strategies, making use of natural richness and preserving it at the same time. But, in order to keep on goals becoming realities, it is also necessary our visitors cooperation. Everyone can contribute in making possible a development truly respectful to our environment.