Data

The extraordinary beauty of Ibiza and Formentera, their warm climate, leisure offerings, and privileged marine environment make the islands one of Europe’s top tourist destinations. In 2023, they welcomed 3.7 million visitors—a record figure. Since 2001, the number of visitors has nearly doubled, placing enormous pressure on the land, water, and ecosystems.

Since 2017, Ibiza and Formentera have exceeded 2,000 tourists per 100 inhabitants. With a ratio of 21 tourists per resident in 2023, the growing tourism-driven economy has also led to social issues and an increasing demand for large-scale infrastructure and facilities, such as roads, desalination plants, and wastewater treatment plants. The costs of building and maintaining these essential services must be borne by the local population.

It is estimated that between 1990 and 2012 alone, 31.14 km² of natural and agricultural land was converted into artificial or urbanised areas, while coastal urbanisation increased by 60.8%. This transformation has impacted some of the islands’ most valuable landscapes and ecosystems.

At the same time, the utilised agricultural area has declined from 26,579 hectares in 2014 to just 7,754 hectares in 2023. Agricultural land has decreased from representing 46.6% of the island to only 13.5% in just nine years. Moreover, between 2014 and 2016 alone, abandoned land in Ibiza rose from 15.9% to 46.8%. This has led to the loss of valuable rural landscapes and the disappearance of important local plant varieties, animal breeds, and traditional knowledge.

Ibiza’s food supply is now heavily dependent on imports – less than 4% of what is consumed on the island is locally produced. Additionally, the abandonment of farmland, combined with the underuse of forests, has increased the risk of wildfires.

To address these issues, Ibiza & Formentera Preservation has been supporting projects for several years aimed at replanting traditional crops, such as almond trees, promoting the consumption of locally produced food, and reviving agricultural activity.

The growing demand for water has led to the overexploitation and contamination of aquifers, as well as an increasing reliance on desalination plants. According to the 2023 report, Ibiza’s groundwater bodies are in a general state of depletion and overuse. Currently, nine of the 16 groundwater bodies on the island are in poor quantitative condition, with one more at risk. When an aquifer is overexploited and its water table drops, seawater intrusion contaminates the freshwater supply.

Urban water demand has increased by 10.2% over the past decade, and 63.5% of urban water consumption now comes from desalination plants. Additionally, the discharge of brine waste from these plants negatively impacts the marine environment, and their operation further contributes to the island’s growing energy demand.

Most tourists visiting Ibiza and Formentera are unaware of the severe water scarcity affecting the islands. Responsible water consumption plays a crucial role in preserving local water resources.

Waste management is one of the primary environmental challenges for island economies. In Ibiza, the amount of household waste generated per person per year has increased by 22% over the past 13 years, reaching 737.63 kg per inhabitant in 2023. These figures exceed the national average (485.45 kg per inhabitant per year in 2017) by 36.4%.

The Ca na Putxa landfill, currently the only available landfill on the islands, is filling up rapidly due to the vast amounts of waste being disposed of. In 2023, more than 67% of municipal solid waste ended up in landfill. To comply with European regulations, by 2020, 50% of municipal solid waste should have been being recycled.

Recycling, avoiding single-use plastics, and reducing unnecessary packaging are small yet impactful actions that everyone can take to help reduce the volume of waste generated on the islands.

Energy consumption is not only a major environmental issue but also represents a significant financial cost for economies like Ibiza and Formentera, whose energy supply depends almost entirely on imported fuels. Island economies are also more vulnerable to potential supply issues and price increases.

Since 2011, energy consumption has risen significantly (by 33%), surpassing 470,000 tonnes of oil equivalent (Tep) in 2018. That same year, Ibiza and Formentera were connected to the Mallorca-Peninsula electricity link, yet consumption has continued to grow, from 921,804 MWh in 2018 to 955,585 MWh in 2023. Ibiza is failing to meet the target of a 26% reduction in energy consumption by 2030 (compared to 2005). Despite its considerable potential, in 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for only 2.84% of total energy consumption. Based on available data, Ibiza remains far from achieving the goal of 35% renewable energy in final energy consumption by 2030. At present, renewables account for just 1.01% of final consumption.

Solar energy is a key component of the islands’ transition towards a carbon-free energy mix. This transition could also bring significant benefits to the local economy.

To encourage households and businesses to adopt solar energy, Ibiza & Formentera Preservation funded and coordinated a study on the potential for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy development in Ibiza. The study showed that investing in solar installations was financially viable and could generate returns within 6–11 years.

Ibiza and Formentera are home to significant biodiversity, with unique species and numerous endemic plants and animals. Among them is the Balearic shearwater, Europe’s most endangered seabird, which has important breeding colonies on the islands. The seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica and the coral reefs in their waters support valuable marine biodiversity.

A significant portion of Ibiza and Formentera is protected (35% and 43%, respectively). However, between 2000 and 2016, the area designated as Nature Reserve and Natural Park drastically declined. Land-use regulations have fluctuated erratically between biodiversity protection and construction permissiveness.

The latest data from the 2019 report highlight that habitat conservation in Ibiza is in poor condition. Of the mapped area, only 23% is considered adequate, while another 23% is in an inadequate state—particularly the Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Ses Salines ‘Site of Community Importance’ (SCI). For this reason, we emphasise the need to assess the state of this habitat and the causes of its degradation.

Recent measures to conserve marine biodiversity are promising. In 2014, nine marine protected areas were added to the EU’s Natura 2000 network, and in 2015, a new marine reserve was proposed. However, providing these areas with sufficient personnel and resources to ensure the protection of their biodiversity and marine habitats remains a significant challenge.

The heavy reliance on private vehicles for travel in Ibiza and Formentera has led to increasing congestion on the islands’ main roads. The motorisation rate measures the number of registered motor vehicles per inhabitant in a given place and period. Ibiza and Formentera have the highest motorisation rate in the Balearic Islands. In particular, Ibiza has exceeded 1,000 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants every year from 2018 to 2023. This means that, on average, every resident of Ibiza—including children and the elderly—would account for more than one vehicle. Private vehicles are currently the main source of CO₂ emissions on the island.

Car dependency has significant environmental impacts due to the greenhouse gas emissions it generates and the ever-growing need for infrastructure. It also has considerable economic consequences, including the need to import costly fuels and the financial losses caused by traffic congestion. Furthermore, this reliance on cars negatively affects public transport services and limits opportunities for walking and cycling.