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Biosphere Reserve.
In 1993, Minorca was officially designated Biosphere Reserve (Management
and the Biosphere project, MAB, Unesco.
Since then, the preservation of the ecological equilibrium has been
an official priority in addition to the natural desire of the native
population to preserve their traditional lifestyle and environment.
The natural environment must be preserved while at the same time
allowing the development of a tourism which does not betray the
great unique privilege of Minorca, its ancient human landscape:
the megalithic monuments, the "tanques" enclosed by dry
stone walls, the ravines which comprise the singular landscape of
Minorca together with the coasts and wetlands.
Throughout its history, the Men of Minorca have shaped the island
with their lives and labour creating a natural habitat which is also
a work of art and which must be protected. |
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Around the island of Minorca are the ANEI -Área Natural de
Especial Interés- Areas of Special Natural Interest, protected
by law. Among these are the areas of Cala Macarella and En Turqueta,
Punta Nati, Algaiarens, Monte Toro- I'm specifically mentioning
first those that readers of the previous pages will recognise: the
Mola de Fornells, Cap de Cavallería... but special emphasis
is given to a singular area selected as the nucleus of the Biosphere
Reserve:
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The
Albufera de Es Grau is a Nature Reserve to the North of Mahon,
half way between the capital and Addaia. It is the largest wetland
on the island and comprises an extensive shallow lagoon, surrounded
by farmland and low pine covered and shrubby hills. Here a great
many species of migrant and resident birds can be found: several
species herons, warblers, geese, birds of prey such as the harriers...an
ornithologist's dream.
At the mouth of the lagoon is found Es Grau, harbour and beach
with the Colom Islet sheltering the bay. Nearby are the ruins of
another Paleo-Christian church.
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