Save Posidonia Formentera |
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SAVE POSIDONIA FORMENTERA!!!Posidonia Project supports the defense of Posidonia in Formentera![]() Photo: Manu San Felix Video Gallery After the public denunciation, followed by an important demonstration on August 15th, lead by citizens of Formentera, amongst them the marine biologist Manu San Felix and the Scientist Carlos Duarte, of the fact that the Posidonia oceanica in Formentera is in serious danger of disappearing in three years, local authorities have promised to take steps to protect it. The international network Posidonia Project joins the public denunciation and communicates its support to all initiatives in defense of the Posidonia of Formentera which is responsible for crystal clear water, white sand beaches and biodiversity. This attracts businesses that generate a billion euros per year in the Balearic Islands in fishing, organic matter, coastal protection and other goods and services such as tourism, mainly attracted by the beauty of the beaches. Posidonia Project thanks all the protagonists of these initiatives for their activism as they carry out important actions with a very significant common goal, and makes its resources available to achieve the objective of reversing the reduction trend of the total area of Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Sea by 2014 , starting by saving the Posidonia of Formentera, one of whose seagrass meadows is also the oldest known living being in the world (a single plant of 8 km and approximately 100,000 years of life), which has also been declared world Heritage by UNESCO. ![]() Anchoring might destroy the posidonia in Formentera in three yearsExperts estimate that a third of the meadows between Punta Pedrera and s´Espalmador have been razedOne boat only destroyed an acre of posidonia in a day. The investigator Carlos Duarte says that the effect of uncontrolled anchoring is an “intolerable aggression”. San Félix counts on regulations for anchoring in protected areas and citizen awareness.The posidonia meadow in Formentera, which belongs to the Balearic Islands, one of the most valuable in the Mediterranean Sea, is being seriously damaged up to the point that “in three or four years, a great part of the Ses Salines Natural Park can be totally destroyed” according to the marine biologist Manu San Félix. Uncontrolled anchoring that is carried out daily by around a thousand boats between Caló de s´Oli and s´Empalmador is the main reason behind the degradation of the submarine forest that was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999.
In spite that the meadow grows in a protected marine area and the explicit prohibition of casting down anchors onto the carpet of posidonia, thousands of boats anchor with impunity over the marine plant throughout summer. The effect of gripping, where the anchor moves along the sea bed dragging everything it finds in it´s way, is devastating vast stretches that according to San Félix are “as big as razed football fields”. That, added to the destruction that is caused by the movements of the chain that links the boat to the anchor, imply that in the last 10 years “the surface of oceanic posidonia has probably been reduced between 30 and 40 per cent in the stretch of sea that separates Punta Pedrera from Espalmador” added the biologist, that admits that “there is still inaccurate data”. ReactionsWith this critical situation of the Formentera meadow, doctor Carlos Duarte, an investigator from the Mediteranean Institute of Advanced Studies (Imedea) has issued a message in which he claims that the destruction of the posidonia is “an intolerable aggression” and reminds us that “it is the large yachts(...) of millionaires and public personalities who tolerate this aggression while they look the other way”. The expert adds that “behind this aggression there is a slackness of duties on behalf of the authorities and the public security forces, on whom responsability for the protection of this valuable heritage falls”. The scientist explains that “in the meadow reside the oldest living organisms of the planet, with cloned posidonia that could be thousands of years old” and argues that “a destroyed acre of this plant, which occurs once in one day in the waters of Formentera, requires more than 300 years to regenerate itself”. Duarte, consider the highest authority worldwide on posidonia and marine phanerogams, assures that each acre of posidonia has a capacity to convert CO2 to oxygen equal to five acres of amazon jungle. Alternatives to the destructionSan Félix explains that to regulate anchoring on the posidonia meadows is “basic” for “any person with a minimum of sensibility”. Nonetheless, he underlines the importance of awareness about this asset: “if the people from the boats knew what was under the water, they wouldn´t anchor” and adds that this awareness should get to everyone that lives in the pine islands: “From those of us that work in the sea to students, waiters or mailmen”. Posidonia Project aims to achieve to reverse the reduction trend of the total area of Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Sea before 2014Posidonia Project
Photos Photo by: ESA-European Scuba Agency Photo by: ESA-European Scuba Agency
Photo by: ESA-European Scuba Agency Photo by: ESA-European Scuba Agency
Photo by: ESA-European Scuba Agency Photo by: Jordi Torrent
Photo by: Jordi Torrent Photo by: RIP Posidonia
Photo by: RIP Posidonia Photo by: RIP Posidonia
Media SelectionESPAÑOL Los yates amenazan uno de los grandes tesoros del Mediterráneo Oceana denunciará el deterioro de las praderas de Posidonia en Baleares Posidonia Project se une a la denuncia para salvar la posidonia de Formentera La Pime de Formentera dice que preservar la posidonia es la clave económica RIP prepara una manifestación el 17 de septiembre Baleares multará a los yates que dañen el fondo marino La presión popular consigue que se rectifique en la pasividad ante la Posidonia La Guardia Civil empieza a sancionar los fondeos en es Caló de s’Oli El plan para regular el fondeo en aguas de Formentera estará en un mes Entre la indeferencia y la falta de información ITALIANO El Pais: «Gli yacht minacciano uno dei più grandi tesori del Mediterraneo». Rischia di sparire la posidonia di Formentera Spagna: Formentera, lotta a yacht che distruggono poseidonia Formentera, Posidonia oceanica a rischio estinzione Posidonia di Formentera rischia l’estinzione in pochi anni Posidonia, poco chic ma eco preziosa Un grido si alza dal Mediterraneo: “Salviamo la posidonia oceanica!" CATALÁ RIP Posidonia Formentera 2011 Rescat Immediat Posidònia OLD Esp 300 personas piden en Formentera protección para la posidonia Diario de Ibiza Ita Esp
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