Our pilot site in Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) highlights how local knowledge and environmental conditions can shape more appropriate gardening practices.

A new guide to sustainable gardening rooted in Menorca

The NGO GOB Menorca has recently published “A manual for sustainable gardening with native plants for an island like Menorca“, offering practical guidance for designing and maintaining gardens adapted to the island’s specific context.

The publication promotes the use of native plant species, water-efficient solutions, and gardening practices that respond to Menorca’s climate, soils, and biodiversity. It also encourages moving away from models that rely on high water consumption or non-native species, and instead working with locally available resources and ecological processes.

By focusing on what grows naturally on the island, the manual provides a concrete example of how gardening can be more closely aligned with the surrounding landscape, both environmentally and culturally.

Learning from the landscape

As botanist and expert on the flora of Minorca, co-author Pere Fraga explains that the environment around us is often the best source of knowledge. Observing and understanding local ecosystems can offer valuable guidance for more adapted and sustainable practices. Read the full interview here.

We are pleased to count GOB Menorca among our pilot sites, helping us better understand what drives resilience in socio-ecological landscapes and seascapes through grounded, place-based initiatives like this one.