The Balearic Minister of the Environment, Miquel Mir, explained yesterday in Parliament that the ‘Pla Boscà’ for the recovery and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Balearic Islands will allocate more than 250,000 euros to Ibiza for the protection of the Pitiusa lizard and the Balearic calàpet toad.
The councillor was answering a question from the Ibizan PP MP Virginia Marí, who asked about the actions designed under the plan. Marí recalled that 540,000 euros were budgeted for the next five years, and questioned whether this was sufficient.
Mir explained that in Ibiza, 138,000 euros will be earmarked for the defence of the Balearic calàpet toad and 113,000 euros for the defence of the Pitiusa lizard.
The plan will include updating the conservation status of these species, with a review of the potential locations in the case of the toad and the improvement of its habitats, both artificial and natural. As for the pitiusa lizard, the most endangered populations will be monitored in Ibiza, and the control of predatory species, specifically snakes, will be increased.
Marí hoped that these announcements would be carried out because she had “doubts” that “something will come to Ibiza”.
Mir recalled that they have been working since 2016 on the control of ophidians and added that in Ibiza a budget of 850,000 euros has been earmarked for the control of this invasive species.