ABOUT THE BALEARIC ISLANDS
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of islands in Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The islands have a Mediterranean climate, and the four major islands are all popular tourist destinations. They’re a paradise of unparalleled beauty where natural parks and monuments, coastlines of crystal-clear waters and unique biodiversity come together in an unforgettable setting for nature lovers and outdoor activity enthusiasts alike.
For BlueCommunities we are proud to partner with SAVE THE MED, a Balearic Islands-based NGO that takes steps to prevent and repair as much of the damage as possible through activism and education methods.
LOCAL GOALS
• Raise awareness about waste management
• Raise awareness about eco-friendly tourism
• Promote sustainable community practices
RELEVANT UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
LOCAL PARTNERS
SAVE THE MED (STM) is a grassroots organization, formed by a devoted team of professionals and passionate volunteers, to regenerate the Mediterranean Sea – one of the worlds most fragile marine environments. STM’s main focus areas are marine protection and pollution reduction. STM collaborates with individuals, schools, businesses, NGOs and governmental institutions to develop, share and implement science-based marine conservation, community initiatives and education programs.
Water and Waste
We believe that water is life, and that access to water should be free. We also believe that the seas, the environment and ourselves should be protected against plastic contamination. Our vision is to provide a viable and alternative solution to local residents and visitors to the island through refill stations in public spaces, events and companies, to have access to drinking water, whilst creating a shift in consciousness towards a plastic free society.
Dos Manos School Program
The Dos Manos Schools Program (meaning Two Hands) explores the issue of plastic pollution in the marine environment and the effect this has on our marine life and ourselves. It is offered to local schools with the aim of reaching and engaging as many students, teachers and parents as possible with marine conservation, ultimately helping to shape an environmentally caring and proactive local population and future generation. Since 2018, more than 6000 participating students have helped remove, categorize and count almost 250.000 plastic objects found on local beaches.
The Plastic Free Balearics Program
The Plastic Free Balearics Programme works with companies in the Balearic Islands to reduce the generation of single use plastic waste and facilitate the crossover to single use plastic free practices, ultimately working for single use plastic free Balearics. The project is developed to allow for replication in other areas, which could result in efficient plastic reduction in areas beyond the Balearic Islands in the future.