News

Gastronomy, heritage sites and nature stars of Formentera's show at FITUR

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 13:11

foto-fitur-2019 CiF president Jaume Ferrer, tourism councillor Alejandra Ferrer and chief of tourism promotions Carlos Bernús attended the opening event today of Madrid's International Tourism Trade Fair, or FITUR, which runs Wednesday to Sunday (January 23-27).

In a dedicated section within the Balearic Islands' stand at the fair, Formentera will share promotional material related to gastronomy, local heritage and natural spaces, making special mention of “all Formentera has to offer after the rush of the high season”.

New features
Councillor Ferrer will meet with representatives of niche media outlets tomorrow to present some of the pioneering features of Formentera's 2019 effort to attract visitors. Among them is a brand-new tourism website and Formentera 365, an app Ferrer said is aimed at “promoting the local businesses that open more winter months”.

Formentera will also talk to the journalists about a new book on homespun gastronomy called “Sabors de Formentera. Receptes tradicionals d'una illa singular” and trailblazing plans for guided tours on local heritage sites and birdwatching in 2019.

As ever, Formentera's representatives at the fair will talk about nature trails and unveil the 2019 calendar of cultural and sporting events, not to mention dedicate air time to the “Discover Formentera” campaigns of May and October. Another presentation on Friday January 25 will focus exclusively on activities for fans of fitness.

“It will all be tied in”, explained Ferrer, “to Formentera's eternal message for tourists about the importance of striking a balance between tourism and local environmental sustainability”.

January and February palm tree pruning months

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 12:55

foto tractament becut The Formentera Council's agriculture department reminds islanders ofthe restrictions placed on pruning plant species that are susceptible to the red palm weevil, namely, palm trees. Residents are asked to limit their pruning to January and February, given these have been the coolest months in recent years.

Authorisation from agriculture office
To prune palm trees, individuals must always have the prior permission of the CiF agriculture office, the goal being to protect pruned trees from infestation and to ensure proper disposal of the garden waste generated in the process. With the green-light of the agriculture office, individuals are allowed to take waste to the local transfer plant, free of charge.

With plants that are susceptible to weevil infestation a series of precautions should be followed: prune only dry leaves; when green leaf pruning is absolutely necessary, cuts should be kept to a minimum and a scarring solution or other plant protection treatment should be applied; cuts should be clean and trunks should not be pared; and, lastly, “close shave” techniques should be avoided when pruning is ornamental (such pruning should only be applied when necessary and followed with a plant protection treatment immediately after). If any weevils are detected during pruning, contact the Council's Office of Agriculture so that the necessary steps can be followed.

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus —the insect also known as the red palm weevil which has devastated palm trees— reduces and even halts its activity altogether at low temperatures. Law 4/2016 of January 29, which establishes the need for efforts within the Balearic region to eradicate the insect and restricts palm tree pruning to the chilliest months.

New car park in vicinity of Sant Ferran school

Monday, 21 January 2019 15:36

foto-aparcament-sant-ferran-1-1 The Formentera Council's mobility department announces the opening of a new parking area in the school zone in Sant Ferran. The 1,200-square-metre lot has room for roughly 40 vehicles and is located at the intersection of carrer Tarragona and the main highway.

Mobility chief Rafael González described it as “a supply of available parking on the east side of avinguda Joan Castelló i Guasch while work on the remodel is under way” and “a way to facilitate parking when classes in Sant Ferran begin and let out”.

González called attention to the large stock of parking spaces at the other end of the avenue alongside the ring road. The Formentera Council is renting the land where the new car park sits for €500/month (VAT included).

Information session on Formentera about funding for solar and small wind-power-generating technologies

Tuesday, 22 January 2019 16:06

Thursday January 24 the Govern's director general of energy, Ferran Rosa, together with CiF environment councillor Daisee Aguilera, will talk about the newest round of assistance for everything from solar, photovoltaic and small-scale wind turbine technologies through to electric mobility. Geared towards islanders and specialised businesses alike, the gathering is scheduled to take place at 7.30pm in the conference space of the island's dependent care facility (Centre de Dia).

The initiative is aimed at promoting clean energy and “self-consumption” (when the person or entity using the energy is the same one that produced it) and is coordinated by the Govern balear's directorate general of energy and climate change, an offshoot of the regional ministry of land, energy and mobility.

Details about the assistance can be found in Catalan at the following links:

1) Installations of solar panel- and “micro” wind turbine-based technologies for self-consumption at homes and businesses
http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=3628364&coduo=2390767&lang=ca

2) Purchases by taxi and ride-hailing service drivers of new vehicles harnessing special electric, plug-in hybrid electric, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or reduced emission technologies
http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=2319379&coduo=2390767&lang=ca

3) Installation of public fast charging stations for electric vehicles (group packages)
http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=3610334&coduo=2390767&lang=ca

4) Installation of public fast (and “semi” fast) charging stations for electric vehicles (for individuals)
http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=3610427&coduo=2390767&lang=ca

5) Installation of private charging stations
http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=3629421&coduo=2390767&lang=ca

Councillor Aguilera said islanders who come to Thursday's session will “know how to benefit from funding to keep promoting renewable energies on the island”. She highlighted an array of funding options, including money so private businesses can install charging stations to further sustainable mobility.

A total of €1.8 million in funding is available for the four islands of the archipelago, a portion of which is put up by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Applicants are eligible for reimbursement of 40 to 50 per cent (applications must be received by March 29 and work must be complete by September 20, 2019).

Who is eligible for the funding:
a) Small and medium-sized businesses.

b) Non-profit organisations and business associations which operate and are headquartered in the Balearic Islands.

c) Individual homeowners and homeowners' associations who oversee installations in dwellings or other facilities in the Balearic Islands.

How much funding is available:
a) Businesses, business associations and non-profit associations can receive 40 per cent back on installations of photovoltaic- and small-scale wind turbine-based technology.

b) Individual homeowners and homeowners' associations can receive 50 per cent back on installations of photovoltaic- and small-scale wind turbine-based technology.

c) Fifty per cent reimbursement for installation of photovoltaic or small-scale wind turbine equipment that incorporate lithium-ion systems.

Formentera repairs outer cemetery walls

Friday, 18 January 2019 14:15

fossa-vell-pintades-21 The Formentera Council is beginning work on the wall that encircles the Sant Francesc cemetery, known as el Fossar Vell. Crews brought in by the administration will paint over the political graffiti on the façade and then spread on limestone whitening solution to restore the edifice to its normal appearance.

Susana Labrador, the CiF's culture and patrimony councillor, made the announcement earlier today, encouraging islanders to “respect sites like this one that are part of a history and heritage which belongs to all of us”.

The cemetery is included in the Eivissa-Formentera bishopric and the Council looks after its maintenance in order to keep it in good condition and share this part of the island's history with residents. In fact, an arrangement between the bishopric and the Council allows the cemetery to remain open for public visits Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00am to 2.00pm.

El Fossar Vell, literally “the Old Burial Ground”, has been around since 1757 and was used until 1940. It is listed as a cultural interest site in the island's catalogue of historic monuments.