Redeia, Red Eléctrica's parent company responsible for energy transmission and the operation of the electricity system, has joined forces with the IbizaPreservation foundation to develop a pioneering conservation project to protect the Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis) on the island of Ibiza. The initiative is being carried out within the framework of the construction of a battery system —new elements of the transmission grid in Ibiza — on land adjacent to the Sant Antoni de Portmany substation. 
 

This is the first time that the execution of such works has been linked to actions aimed at minimising the impact on this protected species endemic to the island. The project by Red Eléctrica and IbizaPreservation was divided into different phases, beginning with a specific survey to locate lizards in the zone and followed by a census of specimens within the project's scope.

Once the necessary permits were obtained, construction began on a 140-square-metre sanctuary. The area was fenced with an eco-friendly synthetic material that prevents snakes from entering, followed by the capture and relocation of the first specimens. The facility is authorised by the Conselleria d'Agricultura, Pesca i Medi Natural (Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment) and incorporates improvement proposals from the Islas Baleares Government's Species Protection Service. Inside, it hosts native vegetation and structures simulating the dry-stone walls typical of the lizards' natural habitat.

The project includes periodic monitoring of the relocated population. Three annual reviews will be conducted, in addition to monthly inspections of the enclosure and controlled trapping of invasive snakes in the surrounding area. Annual reports will also be produced to help compile the data obtained.

According to Itziar Arratibel, Director of Programmes and Projects at IbizaPreservation: 'The project's monitoring will continue until the end of 2028. This will allow us to evaluate the viability of the model for potential application elsewhere. We will work closely with the competent authorities to implement improvements in line with the protocols that are already becoming standardised.'

For his part, Redeia’s Manager of Islas Baleares’ Regional Office, Eduardo Maynau, highlighted 'the company’s commitment to the territory where it develops transmission grid projects through initiatives that provide environmental and social value. In Ibiza, we have committed to getting involved in biodiversity preservation by protecting the lizards alongside IbizaPreservation, specifically within the framework of the battery installation in Sant Antoni de Portmany. Furthermore, this initiative joins another we are carrying out with the Balearic wildlife consortium (COFIB) to place traps in all our substations on the island to capture invasive snakes.'

The Ibiza wall lizard is listed as 'vulnerable' in the Balearic Catalogue of Threatened Species and now appears as 'endangered' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. 

The latest estimates indicate that healthy lizard populations remain in only 30% of Ibiza’s territory, due primarily to the proliferation of invasive snakes introduced through the ornamental tree trade.