Sa Dragonera Blava

Bringing communities together

Explore the Sa Dragonera Blava project

The Sa Dragonera Blava project is dedicated to the regeneration of Sa Dragonera Island and its surrounding areas in the Municipality of Andratx. Its premise is a holistic and bottom-up approach that pursues environmental, cultural, and socio-economic progress by integrating terrestrial and marine ecosystems, all while empowering the community through active engagement and participatory governance.

ABOUT SA DRAGONERA BLAVA

Where Science and Nature Converge for Marine Regeneration.

Off the southwestern coast of Mallorca lies Sa Dragonera, a small island shaped like the back of a dragon. The waters surrounding it are home to a breathtaking variety of underwater habitats, including seagrass meadows and coral reefs, which provide shelter for vulnerable species like the loggerhead turtle and dusky grouper.

The story of Sa Dragonera's journey to becoming a protected area is truly inspiring. It all began in the 1970s, when plans emerged to turn the island into a luxury tourist destination with mansions, hotels, a port, and even a casino. However, the local community and activists stood up, occupying the island and successfully stopping the development. Their actions transformed the island’s future for the better. In 1995, the Balearic Government officially declared Sa Dragonera a natural park and a protected area.

In 2015, Save the Med contributed to a proposal for creating a Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the island’s waters. The following year, the Balearic Government accepted the proposal, protecting 912 hectares of waters between Sa Dragonera and Mallorca, now known as the "Marine reserve of Freu de Sa Dragonera." In 2020, this protection was extended to the outer waters of the island.

Despite these protections, the marine ecosystem remains threatened by mass tourism and intense human activities, such as high-speed boating.Although local communities and NGOs have made important efforts to protect this unique environment, issues like declining fish populations and loss of biodiversity remain serious challenges.

Participatory governance at play

Since 2018, Save the Med has been running community engagement projects focused on protecting the area's biodiversity and encouraging a culture of regeneration. These projects are designed to connect people with the sea, helping them learn more about their environment. They also inspire citizens to take responsibility for protecting nature and get involved in decision-making through participatory governance.

As a result of these efforts, community members have come together to form the Xarxa Dragonera Blava (Blue Dragonera Network). This group includes people from different sectors, all working with a shared goal: to protect the local marine ecosystems.

For me, being part of Xarxa Dragonera Blava means having the opportunity to contribute and make a real difference in the decisions and regulations concerning our coastline.

TESTIMONIAL

Pau Galera, president of Amics de Sant Elm

Join us

Save the Med envisions restoring biodiversity through active community and stakeholder engagement. By increasing knowledge about the sea, involving people in caring for the area, improving practices at sea, and setting up a stewardship program with participative management, our goal is to bring back the rich biodiversity of Sa Dragonera.

To learn more about the Xarxa Dragonera Blava and its upcoming activities, visit the project's website. Get involved and help us restore Sa Dragonera’s marine biodiversity!

Discover Xarxa Dragonera Blava

KPIs

8 Open Forums

held to date (2024)

3 different working groups

Education & best practises

Mooring & anchoring

Water quality

7x Increase in Biomass

Observed in marine reserve

What is the Xarxa?

The Xarxa Dragonera Blava (XDB) is a social network for the Sa Dragonera community. It brings together local citizens, government representatives, experts, activists, and anyone who wants to help regenerate the region. Its purpose is to create participatory governance for the marine area around Sa Dragonera, ensuring that the community is actively involved in making decisions about its management.

How Does It Work?

The process starts by building strong community relationships and learning about the area's values and threats. Once this understanding is shared, the community sets goals collaboratively. These goals are tackled through participatory forums, where community input shapes how the marine area is managed. This includes working with different local sectors to implement best practices . Additionally, three working groups have been formed to focus on specific local issues in the municipality of Andratx: Education & Best Practices, Mooring & Anchoring, and Water Quality.

Successful outcomes from the Xarxa and its bottom-up approach include launching an environmental good-practice campaign for visitors and establishing a community-led protocol for mooring and anchoring among local boat owners to help reduce overcrowding in Sa Dragonera's waters. These achievements are a direct result of the participatory governance of the Xarxa’s working groups, allowing local community inputs to tackle issues and contribute solutions.

Donate

Your support enables impactful projects that contribute to the regeneration of Mediterranean ecosystems and could be eligible for a tax deduction.

Please see below for more information regarding applicable tax deductions in Spain* on donations made to Save the Med Foundation, a non-profit organization under the special tax regime of Law 49/2002, of December 23.