Crews remove nearly 3,000 processionary nests by hand in one week

foto 2021 processionaria 1The Formentera Environment Department reports that approximately 3,000 pine processionary nests have been removed from local pine trees in the last seven days. The Consell de Formentera has brought in two outside contractors at a cost of €8,872 to oversee the effort, which started near the hospital and cemetery before continuing to Camí des Brolls, the Sant Ferran petrol station, Camí Vell de la Mola, Migjorn and Es Ca Marí. The 20-day operation will ultimately cover a large part of affected pine trees on the island.

Over five thousand cartridges scheduled to arrive in the days ahead will be used by local hunters who have agreed to collaborate in the effort to destroy nests in tall branches.

Islanders and healthy forests department collaborate
Environment chief Antonio J Sanz encouraged landowners and islanders at large to do their part to safeguard Formentera’s forests, and said the FED had information and other material  for those needing assistance.

“Tackling the pest’s spread on Formentera must continue to be a priority for the Balearic healthy forests department”, said Sanz. “We’re  seeing the caterpillar in more and more places, and aren’t out of the woods yet, not by a long shot.”

The Balearic Islands Institute of Nature, or Ibanat, is also working simultaneously to eliminate nests from the area of the island known as Sa Tanca d’Allà dins.

For more information visit the FED (Àrea de Medi Ambient) at carrer Mallorca, 15 (baixos) in Sant Ferran de ses Roques; call 971 32 12 10 ext.1 or send an email to mediambient@conselldeformentera.cat. Islanders can likewise contact the healthy forests division of the Balearic government on their website, or by phone (971 17 66 66) or email.

27 January 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera