Energy and Water for New Buildings

Recently, there has been some controversy, reported in the Menorcan press, concerning requirements for energy efficiency and water consumption in new buildings. The issue began with a memo from the College of Architects and the discussion continued at a meeting of the Mayors with the Island Council however, the information released by the press seems to be more of a complaint than a solution to the proposals. Continue reading Energy and Water for New Buildings →

Participation on bio indicator monitoring in Land Stewardship Scheme

Spring has arrived and with it, the monitoring of bio indicators on farms signed up to the Land Stewardship Scheme. The object of this exercise is to demonstrate, through voluntary participation, the positive relationship between the practice of sustainable farms and biodiversity. We are looking for people who would like to help. Continue reading Participation on bio indicator monitoring in Land Stewardship Scheme →

The Binibò Farm incorporated into the Land Stewardship Scheme

The network of those farms that are part of the Land Stewardship Scheme has increased with the incorporation of the Binibò Farm situated to the south of Ciutadella. With some 10 hectares of land, the principal production is from the orchard, a sector rather underrepresented in Menorca (the Island imports 90% of what is consumed from orchard and kitchen gardens). Some fruit trees and areas with flowers with a potential for honey production have been planted. Continue reading The Binibò Farm incorporated into the Land Stewardship Scheme →

The Central Electricity Power Station and Creative Headlines

There are many ways to analyse data and news headlines. Sometimes, the data are analysed well, however, the headlines hardly do them justice. So it is with the Central Electricity Power station.

We have recently seen headlines announcing that the turbines of the Power Station have reduced their pollution by 83%, thanks to the injection of treated wastewater. Someone, who does not know the details of how the factory operates to generate energy for the island, would think that the whole of the Power Station has contributed to this air pollution reduction. This is not so. Continue reading The Central Electricity Power Station and Creative Headlines →

Seven illegal swimming pools at an agrotourism

Various illegal construction works have resulted in considerable fines to the managers of an agrotourism that presented a project with a theoretical environmental commitment, now realised to be a hoax. The case shows the necessity of clear regulation with effective surveillance.

The agrotourism of Torre Vella, in the municipality of Alaior, presented a project that, amongst other problems, expended a lot of water from the aquifer for tourist services. In an effort to reduce this impact, the project incorporated various below ground level water tanks that could collect water, purified on the spot, which would be used for watering the gardens. Continue reading Seven illegal swimming pools at an agrotourism →

Attention given to 1,150 wild animals in 2020

While 2020 was an atypical and critical year for humanity due to the health crisis of COVID 19, nature continued along its way. So much so that the Centre for Recuperation of Wild Animals of Menorca closed the year 2020 with the following figures of 1,154 animals 78 different species given attention, and that was 13 more than admitted during 2019. Thanks to constant public help, the involvement of various volunteers and the work done by the Centre’s personnel, this year the percentage of animal recovery and release has increased by about 38.8%. The annual report is attached at the end of this article. Continue reading Attention given to 1,150 wild animals in 2020 →

Conscientious Ecology