17
September
2021
|
15:14
Europe/Amsterdam

FORMENTERA REINFORCES ITS SUSTAINABLE CREDENTIALS WITH THE 4TH ‘SAVE POSIDONIA’ FORUM 2021

The 4th edition of the ‘Save Posidonia’ Forum will be held between 23rd and 25th September 2021 in San Francesc Xavier on the Balearic Island of Formentera. The theme of the Forum is “Intelligent Sustainability for Tourism Recovery and the Preservation of the Territory” and will highlight the island’s commitment to preserving the meadows of Posidonia Oceanica, a seagrass species which is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea.

The event will hold a number of sessions to discuss new innovative sustainability models, technological advancements, and the concept of Blue Economy, which encourages preservation and regeneration of the marine environment. Presentations will be led by representatives from local companies, NGOs, researchers, and industry experts from WWF, WTTC, Cornell University and Global Sustainable Tourism Council, among others.

As part of the event, participants will be invited to take part in additional activities, such as beach cleaning and exploring the meadows of Posidonia Oceania. On a guided boat excursion visitors will see the unique seagrass that is believed to be the reason behind the Mediterranean Sea’s turquoise colour! 

Formentera has been long committed to the conservation of the local sea floor which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. In 2017, the local authorities launched the pioneering Save Posidonia Project, which allowed both companies and individuals to sponsor a small stretch of the seagrass from as little as one euro, ensuring that all funds go directly to the conservation programme.

Thanks to generous donations, over 250,000 square metres of the Posidonia Oceanica meadows have already been sponsored and preserved. The protection and restoration of this marine plant is crucial to the local ecosystem as it serves as one of the most important sources of oxygen which helps to filter the water’s sediments.

The local government will continue to work on a cartography project which aims to map the seagrass and help boats find appropriate places to moor that asure that chains and anchors stree clear of the Posidonia meadows

Boilerplate

For more information on Formentera as a tourist destination please visit www.formentera.es 

For more information on Spain as a visitor destination, please visit www.spain.info or contact Spain@wearelotus.co.uk

Share this page