Under this banner, we seek to collaborate with other local organisations to reverse the critical situation of the Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis), a species endemic to Ibiza and Formentera. This creature, which has inhabited the islands for more than 4,000 years, faces a serious threat of extinction due to the proliferation of invasive snakes, first introduced in the early 2000s in the trunks of trees imported from the mainland.

Several studies warn that without urgent measures, this species could soon disappear. In 2024, it was categorised as “Endangered” on the IUCN’s Red List. At Ibiza & Formentera Preservation, we are working actively to prevent its extinction through snake control activities, awareness-raising and habitat protection.

Click the button below to find out more about the issue and how you can help protect the islands’ emblematic lizard.

In collaboration with the Balearic Regional Government and GEN-GOB, this project undertakes mass trapping of snakes in protected natural spaces of Ibiza to try to reduce their numbers and thereby protect lizard populations in areas of high biodiversity value. Traps are installed in strategic locations such as Ses Feixes de Talamanca and the Parc Natural de Ses Salines, where their effectiveness is evaluated and the methodology improved. The project was launched in 2023 with the support of CaixaBank, Fundació Sa Nostra, Eroski and Worldcoo. In 2024, 80 traps were placed over both locations, capturing 137 snakes. In 2025 the number of traps managed was increased to 100.

The aim of this initiative is to reduce the impact of invasive snakes in rural areas of Ibiza and to bolster the health of agricultural ecosystems by conserving the Ibiza wall lizard, which serves as a natural pest control and supports soil balance. The initiative got underway in 2024, with the support of Ibercaja Foundation. 200 traps were installed in 48 farms, with 362 specimens of horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) captured. 

In 2025 the network expanded to 57 farms. These have become strategic early detection and active conservation points. Periodic monitoring allows for an evaluation of the impact of trapping on lizard populations and on local biodiversity.

This project aims to strengthen the resilience of the Ibiza wall lizard by creating safe spaces from invasive snakes and involving key stakeholders in its conservation.

Between March and September 2023, 100 shelters were installed in landscaped areas of more than 40 hotels, along with selective traps and awareness-raising actions. This initiative was supported by CaixaBank and the Fundació Sa Nostra, with additional funding from the Tourism Promotion Department of the Consell of Ibiza, and sought to reinforce lizard populations in urban areas.

In 2025, Ibiza & Formentera Preservation and Redeia (Red Eléctrica de España) developed a pioneering pilot project in San Antonio municipality for ex situ conservation, involving the capture and relocation of lizard specimens to an artificial 140 m² refuge designed to prevent the entry of snakes and promote the lizards’ survival under controlled conditions. This initiative, which includes a technical monitoring plan through 2028, aims to serve as a replicable model for future conservation efforts.

In collaboration with the Consell of Formentera and other public and private stakeholders, we have promoted the development of a biosecurity protocol aimed at preventing the arrival of invasive snakes to the island and protecting its native lizard population. This initiative, which was supported by Eroski and Worldcoo, was the result of a participatory process that in 2024 brought together eight entities, including the Consells of Ibiza and Formentera, the Balearic Regional Government, ferry companies and port security bodies. 

The protocol establishes measures such as port controls, surveillance of cargo transport and training for logistics companies, defines early eradication responses at the port of la Savina and develops public awareness campaigns, all as part of a strategy to minimise accidental translocation of snakes from Ibiza.

This pilot project seeks to position biodiversity as a strategic asset for sustainable tourism in Formentera. Using innovative methodology, an assessment was carried out of the island’s vegetation, ecosystem services and investment potential through biodiversity credits. Following this initial study, a strategy was then developed, which proposed increasing green cover by 22% over 20 years, reducing temperatures in urban areas by up to 2 degrees Celsius, and improving air quality, soil quality and water retention. In collaboration with Mishcon Purpose, Nature & People Foundation, Conservation Collective and EverTree, we identified key areas for ecological restoration and have begun reforestation with native species such as olive and carob trees.