Regarding the vegetation, the first important point is the soil. Morphologically, the soil is composed principally of limestone and sand. Together with the scarce and irregular rainfall already mentioned, there is the factor of the high permeability of the ground. These characteristic conditions of the island are not very favorable for extense vegetation.
In this photograph we can observe the area of Cap de
Barbaria. Flat, rocky ground with scarce vegetation. The only plants which stand out are
those of rosemary and thyme.
A great part of Formentera is covered by pine forests such as Pinus halepensis and sabinas which are Juniperus Phoenicia from the family of Cupresaceas (Gimnospermas). There also exist some examples of Pino piñonero (Pinus Pinea) which give pine nuts..
We can say the the sabina is the characteristic tree of Formentera in that in no other island in the archipelago does it have such importance in the number, size and age of these trees. In the oldest houses in Formentera there can be found door and window frames, beams, and other parts built with sabina wood that have resisted perfectly both the passing of time and bad weather. This wood is also used occasionally as a decorative element in houses and restaurants. A particularly unfortunate use has been added to the traditional ones as young trees have been cut down to be used as 'Christmas trees' due to their similarity. This has contributed to a reduction in its numbers but also to an intensification in its protection.
Sabina, Juniperus Phoenicea
Many of the examples of sabina reach considerable proportions. Its wood has been commonly used in construction due to its great durability.
The undergrowth is typically Mediterranean: bushes Pistacia Lentiscus, rosemary Rosmarinus Officinalis, thyme Coridothymus Capitatus, ollastre Olea Europea, juniper Juniperus Oxycedrus, white rockrose Cistus Albidus, etc.
In the sandy areas and beaches there can be found, in addition to the ones already mentioned, other kinds of plants such as "esteperol" of the dunes Cistus Clusii, "lletreres" genus Euphorbia and "botja" Ononis Natrix. There are also extended plantations of "carritx" Ammophila Arenaria. In the marshlands near the salt pans there are an abundance of halophiles such as "jonc" Salicornia Arabia and "solseres" Suaeda Fructicosa. Actually the local government is in the process of protecting the area of the dunes because of the richness of the vegetation.
Other species that are well-adapted are the prickly pears Opuntia Ficus-indica and the agaves Agave Americana.
One of the most well established trees is the fig tree Ficus Carica. The fig tree is deciduous, has large, rough, lobed leaves with milky juice, and often has a bent trunk. Originally from Asia, the fruit has been recollected over the years by the inhabitants of the island and the tree is one of the most cultivated.
The figs are recollected and some of them are dried in the sun and later eaten.
The animals of Formentera
Actually there exists very little information about the animals of Formentera and what does exist is incomplete. Moreover, here only the land animals will be discussed without mentioning the rich marine ecosystem (vegetation as well as animals) that exists along our coasts.
Starting with the mammals, it can be observed in the first place the absence of wild meat-eating animals although there do exist some wild domestic cats, abandoned by their owners. The rabbits are abundant but hares are inexistant on the island. Another interesting species is the dormouse Eliomys quercinus ssp.Gymnesicus, which in Formentera has undergone a microevolution that, as in the case of other species, has brought it to giantism, to the point where the examples in Formentera are the biggest in the world. Also a part of this phenomenon is the countryside mouse Mus musculus. The two species of rat, the sewer rat Rattus norvegicus and the countryside rat Rattus Rattus , are not very abundant.
Lagartija (Podarcis sp)
Particularly interesting are the reptiles of Formentera , especially everything related to the small lizards Podarcis sp., as a group of species that have survived in conditions of genetic isolation on the small islands of the entire archipelago, developing and producing various subspecies, varieties, circles of races, etc.
There also exist two types of geckos Tarentola mauritanica and Hemidactylus turcicus, apparently intorduced by man. There does not exist any type of snake, a fact which calls our attention since one of the names of the island in ancient times was that of Ofiusa, which seems to refer to this type of reptile.
In regard to the insect eaters, an outstanding species is the African hedgehog Erinaceus algirus ssp.Vagans, which is quite abundant in the island and whose principal enemies are the roads and the night-time drivers, due to the fact that the hedgehogs try to cross the roads at night and somestimes end up underneath the wheels of some inattentive driver. Another outstanding species is the bat, formerly very abundant but actually undergoing a notable decrease.
The birds of
Formentera require special mention. It is known with certainty that there are presently
nesting in Formentera at least 41 types of birds, quite a high number if we compare it to
the 54 types that nest in both Ibiza and Formentera. We can distinguish three big groups
of birds, depending on where they live. There are the land birds, the sea birds, and the
birds of wet places with the two last groups being without a doubt the most important. The
outstanding species are those that nest in the Estany Pudent where there are some groups
that are very big and especially important, even on the level of the entire Mediterranean.