Recent grants
Environmental Legal Fund
In March 2011 IPF established a legal fund to enable local NGOs (GENGOB and Amics de la Terra) to take action against development projects and public works that severely threaten the environment. An exemplary success in the courts for the NGOs has been the halting of the urbanization of Cap i Llentrisca (Llentrisca Creek), an area highly valued for its floristic diversity. Environmental action taken to the courts forces decision makers to think more carefully before agreeing to illegal development projects.
Water Campaign
Starting in July, Amics de La Terra’s campaign will focus on the quality of drinking water in Ibiza. This is a widely shared public concern and will provide a platform from which to inform people about other water problems on the island such as scarcity and desalination plants, while lobbying the municipalities for solutions.
Amics de Ses Feixes (Amics de la Terra) and Ses Feixes DVD (GEN-GOB)
Ses Feixes is an important wetland, located between Ibiza Town and Talamanca. It is a wintering ground for migratory birds, and constitutes a haven for wildlife, harboring a great variety of fauna and flora. Ses Feixes is unique among wetlands in the Mediterranean, because of the ingenious irrigation system created there by the Arabs. This transformed the wetland into productive land, farmed until recent times.
The future of Ses Feixes is threatened by competing interests. Its protection depends upon a well-informed public. IPF has supported GEN-GOB in the production of a dvd, raising awareness on the area, for widespread distribution on the island in 3 languages, and Amics de la Terra efforts to educate the public about the environmental and cultural significance of Ses Feixes. Action and information has been aimed at preventing damage to the wetland, as well as support for positive, protection and restoration initiatives.
Cala D’Hort: Conservation for a sustainable future
The Cala d´Hort area, which includes the islands of Es Vedra, Illots de Ponent, south-west Ibiza and the surrounding marine environment, is considered a European conservation priority due to the presence of rare, endangered species. The area was previously a designated Natural Park. But protection was short-lived, and in 2007 the area granted protection was reduced from 2700 hectares to 234 hectares, covering only the islands and Can Sora.
Since then, weak and unreliable protection regulations mean that development remains a significant threat. GENGOB’s campaign aims to achieve long-term protection of the area, and to encourage economic activities that are compatible with its conservation.
Organic farming guide and grant for organic farmers
IPF has supported the production of a guide to organic farms on Ibiza, created by Amics de la Terra, to promote the consumption of freshly produced local organic products. We are currently hoping to support a training program for the new generation of organic farmers on the island later this year.
To access the guide please click here.
