The Formentera Environment Department (FED) reminds landowners with pine trees that they are required, in light of growing local spread of the pine processionary, to make sure proper phytosanitary conditions are maintained among the trees. Islanders can alert the municipality to the presence of nests by means of the Línea Verde app, by contacting the Consell directly, or by visiting FED.

New telescopic shears and 5,000 munitions cartridges for nest removal

This year the Formentera government has purchased two long-handled pruning shears to remove nests at heights of five to six metres. Islanders who agree to certain conditions can borrow the shears at no charge from FED. Five thousand recently purchased ammunition cartridges will be distributed to local hunting groups who have traditionally joined in efforts to eliminate processionary nests.

“The Consell will do everything it can to make this easier for landowners”, said FED councillor Antonio J. Sanz, calling such individuals’ help “fundamental to combating the invasive pest”. Landowners are the ones responsible under municipal bylaws to remove nests, and Sanz said additional help is available to islanders who are unable to do so.

Wintertime signs of the pest’s spread in untreated areas include dry needles at branch tips and groups of caterpillars nesting for warmth. Pine processionaries are defoliators, meaning they feed on leaves, attacking pine trees and even causing serious damage if attacks are sustained or trees are already in a weakened state.

In the final months of 2020, the Healthy Forests Service of the Balearic division of natural spaces and biodiversity teamed up with the Consell de Formentera to perform targeted helicopter dustings of biological agent Bacillus thuringiensis.

Recommendations

FED and the Balearic Healthy Forests Service reminds islanders:

1.-If you see the processionary on the island, tell the appropriate authorities, noting where they are and how many nests you see.

2.-Remove nests from any affected pines.

3.-The most effective way to stop the processionary is to cut down nests and burn them.

4.-Take steps when removing nests to protect yourself from the caterpillar’s urticating hairs. Wear long-sleeved shirts, gloves and protective eyewear.

5.-Because urticating hairs that come loose in the wind can cause breakouts or other dermatological reactions, nests should be removed with one’s back to the wind.

6.-Once removed, nests must be destroyed. Forest services recommend burning them far removed from wooded areas to minimise the risk of fire.

7.-Caterpillars can also be crushed or shot (make sure you have a hunting permit and that seasonal hunting restrictions allow).

For more information visit the Healthy Forests Service at http://sanitatforestal.caib.es or contact the office by calling 971 17 66 66 or emailing sanitatforestal@caib.es . Visit FED (Àrea de Medi Ambient) at carrer Mallorca, 15 (baixos) in Sant Ferran de ses Roques, or contact the office at 971 32 12 10 ext.1 or mediambient@conselldeformentera.cat.

7 January 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Culture Department and the Three Kings Association report that the Three Wise Men of the East have confirmed plans to visit the island on 5 January, tailoring the “cavalcada” to facilitate full compliance with public health protocol.

Scheduled route
Setting out from La Mola lighthouse at 4.00pm, the Magi will continue on a tour of Formentera towns along PM 820-2, forgoing traditional stops in order to ensure respect for hygiene and safety rules in place. The cavalcade’s estimated passage in El Pilar de la Mola (and along the stretch of highway known as avinguda de la Mola) is 4.15pm. Next the cortege cuts through Es Caló de Sant Agustí approximately 15 minutes later, reaching Sant Ferran de ses Roques (where the highway becomes carrer Joan Castelló Guasch) at roughly 4.45pm. Immediately afterward the procession will enter the roundabout and turn onto carrer Universitat toward Es Pujols. The parade will stop just short of town, turning onto the ring road (carrer Barcelona) at about 5.00pm, and carrying on along PM 820-2 until La Savina. There, the Magi will descend avinguda de la Mediterrània, then carrer s’Almadrava and at last avinguda de la Mediterrània again, leaving town at roughly 5.15pm. The procession will mount PM 820-2 towards Sant Francesc and enter town at 5.30pm via carrer Pla del Rei, staying on the Es Cap highway until reaching the municipal football pitch roughly 15 minutes later. The final leg of the route will see processionists advance on the Sant Frances ring road, carrer de sa Tanca Vella, with the estimated conclusion of the cavalcade’s run at 6.00pm.

The Consell de Formentera has printed a map of the parade route for revellers. Organisers hope to discourage islanders from crowding at greeting points, recommending instead that children catch the procession from whichever spot along the Kings’ route is closest to home. Due to the epidemiological situation, the Consell is urging islanders to limit groups to children and parents or guardians — or namely, stable family units. Acutely vulnerable individuals and adults not accompanying children are encouraged not to stop along the procession route so that children can enjoy the event with the highest possible level of safety.

Since crowds are expected to be particularly large in Sant Francesc and Sant Ferran, additional Consell staff will be deployed to these areas to ensure compliance with capacity limitations and safe two-metre distancing between separate family units. Masks must be worn at all times.

Culture and festivities councillor Susana Labrador highlighted the effort that has gone into ensuring local youngsters could continue to enjoy the magic of the Three Wise Men of the East amid scarcely typical circumstances. She also asked all islanders to eschew crowds and social contact with people outside their stable bubble. “We’re asking all of Formentera to be responsible. Whether in a town or on the roadside, take children only as far from home as necessary to see the cavalcade. Respect safe distancing and other public health protocol. If we do these things, we’ll be able to enjoy Their Majesties’ visit without endangering our own health or that of our neighbour.” Labrador praised Three Kings Association’s hard work and dedication in making the cavalcade’s historic visit a reality once again.

The Magi’s visit may be canceled if the epidemiological situation requires.

2 January 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera