The awards presented yesterday by the global network of foundations were created by students from the Ibiza Shool of Arts as part of an “upcycling” competition
IbizaPreservation was honoured last night at the prestigious 2024 Collective Awards in London, an event that recognises the achievements of organisations within the Conservation Collective’s global network of environmental foundations. The foundation received the award in the category of “Preserve, Protect, and Regenerate Natural Habitats” for its ongoing dedication to the protection of Posidonia oceanica. The awards presented during the ceremony were created by students from the Ibiza School of Arts, as part of an upcycling competition organised by IbizaPreservation, in collaboration with the band Depeche Mode, the watch brand Hublot, and Conservation Collective, with the aim of “raising awareness among younger generations about the issue of waste generation,” according to the foundation.
The recognition awarded to IbizaPreservation is due to its sustained support of the annual study of a 1,236 m² meadow of Posidonia across eight monitoring stations in Cala Vedella and Talamanca Bay, conducted by GEN-GOB. The 2023 results revealed that more than half of the meadow at some sampling points remained dead, showing no signs of recovery.
“Through its funding of the study and communication work to ensure maximum visibility of the results and real impact on protection measures, IbizaPreservation has played a crucial role in raising awareness and prompting local authorities to take protective action,” highlighted the Collective Awards. In this regard, during the presentation of the latest data, the Town Hall of Ibiza announced new measures to protect the meadows, including a project to install ecological buoys.
“Empirical data, combined with strong communication, can raise awareness, drive change, and promote concrete actions to protect our natural habitats,” emphasised Inma Saranova, director of IbizaPreservation.
“The triple recognition of the Balearic entities in the CC network highlights the enormous effort we are making to position this region at the forefront of efforts to improve the situation we are facing,” Saranova remarked during the event.
Sustainability and art with an Ibizan touch
Among the awards crafted by the Ibiza School of Arts, the piece awarded to IbizaPreservation was a recycled metal sculpture inspired by Posidonia, designed by young artist and student Mara Escandell. Escandell’s prize consisted of a €120 gift card for the La Sirena store, with which she was presented during the “Magic of Recycling” event, held last week at Can Ventosa to mark World Recycling Day.
To date, IbizaPreservation has also helped finance the mapping of Formentera’s Posidonia meadows, provided scholarships to young people in vulnerable situations to help them experience Posidonia and its environment first-hand, and is part of the Promoter Group for the Marine Forum as well as the Future Forum, which will celebrate its fifth edition next Friday in Jesús. These initiatives are just a few examples of their extensive efforts in marine conservation.
