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Preserving endangered ecosystems: Ibiza

Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999, the island of Ibiza is one of several islands, the best known of which are Majorca and Minorca, that make up the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. Known in recent years as the capital of nocturnal festivities, Ibiza nevertheless remains a place where biodiversity and culture go hand in hand. The zone protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre includes the coastal lagoons and salt-pans (Las Salinas), the islands of Ibiza and Formentera and the small islets of the Freus Isles (Penjats, Espardell and Espalmador). The coastal waters are home to dense concentrations of very well conserved Neptune grass (posidonia oceanica – a species of seagrass) and coral reefs. At its peak, and under conditions of exceptional water transparency and purity, this species generates coastal coral reefs that provide protection from storms. It is worth noting that these seagrasses are increasingly under threat and those of Ibiza are considered the best preserved in the Mediterranean basin. The other major ecosystems are associated with the salt-pans, a region that is extrememely important for migratory birds. In Ibiza, culture and local traditions are closely tied with the sea. On the island of Formentera, for example, the local population applies traditional methods of working the soil that have been in use for over 300 years, in order to preserve this environment. You can learn about the marine sites supported under the “Tides of Time” partnership whenever you want - listen to interviews with Jérôme Lambert, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre and discover or rediscover the videos on jaegerlecoultreclub, the Official Jaeger-LeCoultre Channel on YouTube. 2010 marks the third year of the partnership between Jaeger-LeCoultre, the International Herald Tribune and UNESCO. This partnership has already seen the realisation of several ambitious projects : - The promotion of protected sites to raise public awareness; - The recruitment of a coordinator for the marine programme implemented by the World Heritage Centre; - The development of a watch specifically for the partnership, the Master Compressor Extreme - W-Alarm Tides of Time; - Auctions with the proceeds going to threatened sites; etc. Jaeger-LeCoultre has already held two auctions on its internet site. All the proceeds (GBP13,540 and GBP12,600) have been donated to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, such as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. This donation has enabled Tubbataha to purchase a radar system to control traffic in the Park’s waters. Extended coverage of the event is now on-line in LeClub. Registration is free. Click here to join.