The foundation has planted a butterfly garden with ASPANADIF users and highlights the key role of these pollinators on World Biodiversity Day
Ibiza, 22 May 2025 – On the occasion of World Biodiversity Day, which is commemorated today, 22 May, the IbizaPreservation Sustainability Observatory has published new data that warns of the worrying decline in butterfly populations on the island . According to the latest analysis carried out within the framework of the 2024 Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (BMS) project – a scientific monitoring program that studies the evolution of butterfly populations through systematic counts and whose monitor is the naturalist Jaume Estarellas – a total of 526 individuals of 18 species were counted last year at the Can Toni d’en Jaume Negre measuring station, a rural area located in the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja. This enclave is used as a sampling point within the BMS program due to its ecological value and high biodiversity.
Although these data show a slight increase compared to 2023 —when 474 individuals of 15 species were recorded— the figures are still far from those recorded in 2021, when 1,289 specimens of 17 species were observed, representing a 59% decrease in the number of butterflies counted at that station in just three years. These data are part of the Ibiza 2024 Sustainability Report, currently being prepared and fully funded by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa.
“Although we must be cautious when generalising, as this is only data recorded at a single monitoring station, the decline in specimens is very striking and invites us to be alert to a more than likely decline of these species on the island of Ibiza,” explained Elisa Langley, coordinator of the Sustainability Observatory. Langley added that “this decline also coincides with a period of extreme dryness, which possibly contributes to the causes of the population decline.”
Bioindicator species
IbizaPreservation emphasises that butterflies play a fundamental role in ecosystems , both through their work as pollinators—on which a large part of food production depends—and as bioindicator species: their presence and diversity allow us to assess the state of conservation and balance of natural habitats. “The protection of butterflies is essential for ecological balance. That’s why it’s necessary to adopt concrete measures, such as avoiding the use of harmful pesticides, to halt the decline of pollinators and protect the island’s biodiversity,” Langley insisted.
For all these reasons, and to continue contributing to the conservation of these species, the IbizaPreservation team planted a new pollinator garden yesterday at the Can Llàtzer estate , managed by the Association of Parents of Children and Adolescents with Disabilities of Ibiza and Formentera (ASPANADIF) . The activity is part of the “Butterflies for Biodiversity” project, developed through the Ibiza Produce programme, and was also part of the celebration of World Biodiversity Day. “These types of gardens, designed with aromatic and nutrient plants, seek to attract butterflies and other pollinators, creating habitats that promote their survival and, at the same time, raising awareness about their essential role in ecosystems,” explained Jordi Salweski, coordinator of the Ibiza Produce programme.
José Luis Jofré, president of ASPANADIF, highly valued the project’s participation in this initiative, emphasising the coherence between the project’s environmental focus and the organisation’s work philosophy. “Although our main objective is serving people with support needs, we are closely connected to the environment. Our farm has been organic for over fifteen years, and we understand that everything we do for the environment has a direct impact on people’s well-being,” he explained. “These types of actions not only foster skills that can lead to career opportunities, but also generate immediate personal satisfaction: seeing the results of a job is very gratifying,” he added, explaining that ASPANADIF maintains a vegetable garden on the farm, currently more oriented toward educational purposes than production, as part of its commitment to connecting people with nature.
This action is part of the “Regenerating Butterflies” initiative, promoted by conservationist Astrid Vargas and the A Regenerar association, which promotes the creation of living gardens as an educational and ecological restoration tool. These spaces foster the recovery of pollinator habitats and raise awareness about the importance of protecting biodiversity.
“In a context of accelerated biodiversity loss, initiatives like this are a concrete way to raise awareness and unite efforts at the local level,” highlighted Jordi Salewski, adding that IbizaPreservation’s goal “is to continue promoting actions that connect people with nature and help protect the valuable natural heritage of Ibiza and Formentera.”
