A new association dedicated to protecting the native lizards of Ibiza and Formentera has been established following the controversy surrounding a private refuge created by Ibiza resident Marilina Serra Cardona.

The new organisation, named Associació Salvem ses Sargantanes de ses Pitiüses, aims to bring together local residents, scientists and public administrations to develop initiatives for the conservation of the sargantana pitiüsa, the endemic lizard found across the Pitiusas.

Serra announced its creation on 12 November, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in her efforts to protect the species. The move also marks her departure from the citizen platform Sargantana Power, which she had previously joined.

The announcement comes amid public debate over a proposed €6,000 penalty connected to a private refuge for the protected lizards on her property. Serra says she wants the situation to become an opportunity for greater cooperation between citizens and the authorities, rather than a prolonged confrontation.

A New Association to Protect the Pitiusa Lizard

The Associació Salvem ses Sargantanes de ses Pitiüses has been established as a legally constituted organisation with its own legal identity.

According to Serra's statement, its purpose is to promote conservation initiatives and create opportunities for cooperation between civil society, public administrations and the scientific community.

The association intends to provide a structured way for residents who want to contribute to protecting the species to work alongside conservation professionals and the relevant authorities.

Serra believes that local involvement can play an important role in protecting the island's biodiversity, provided that initiatives are developed with the necessary scientific advice and legal safeguards.

She has stressed that the new association is not intended to replace existing organisations or compete with them. Instead, she hopes that different groups and individuals can contribute to the same conservation objective through complementary initiatives.

Marilina Serra Leaves Sargantana Power

The creation of the new association also represents a change in Serra's involvement in the local conservation movement.

She had previously joined Sargantana Power, a citizen platform dedicated to defending the Pitiusa lizard. In her announcement, she acknowledged the work and commitment of the people who originally established and maintained the platform.

Serra confirmed that she is now leaving Sargantana Power to pursue a separate path through the new association.

She also made clear that Sargantana Power will continue its activities with the people who originally founded and sustained it.

Her message emphasised that the two initiatives can work independently while sharing the same broad objective: protecting the native lizards of Ibiza and Formentera.

The Controversy Behind the Proposed €6,000 Penalty

The new association has been announced shortly after the Balearic Government opened a sanctioning procedure concerning a private refuge for Pitiusa lizards established by Serra.

The case relates to a fenced area on private property where the aim was to provide protection for the reptiles against invasive snakes, which have become a significant threat to native lizard populations on the islands.

According to the Government's announcement on 5 November, environmental officers inspected the enclosure on 26 April 2026. They observed three lizards during the inspection, while one of the people responsible for the site stated that there were 18 animals in the enclosure.

The Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment subsequently determined that the facility was not part of its official conservation programmes. Its technical assessment also concluded that the enclosure did not provide sufficient guarantees to prevent invasive snakes from entering.

The authorities therefore initiated a sanctioning procedure for the keeping and confinement of protected lizards outside the official conservation framework.

A penalty of €6,000 was proposed, but this is an important distinction: the announcement concerned a proposed sanction within an administrative procedure, not confirmation that a final fine had already been imposed.

The Government also stated that the animals should be removed and transferred to a location meeting the appropriate technical and legal requirements. Temporary custody measures were established while arrangements for their transfer were pending.

Serra Calls for Collaboration Between Citizens and Authorities

In her statement announcing the new association, Serra said she did not want the controversy to become a permanent conflict between residents and public institutions.

Instead, she called for practical mechanisms that would allow citizens to contribute to conservation projects within an appropriate legal and scientific framework.

She suggested that initiatives requiring authorisation should be assessed to determine whether they can be made possible, while projects requiring scientific protocols should be developed with the necessary expert involvement.

Her proposal is to establish a model in which public administrations, conservation specialists and local residents can work together.

Serra also emphasised that she does not intend to question the role of professional conservation bodies. She believes that scientific expertise and institutional oversight are essential, but that the knowledge, commitment and participation of local residents should also be recognised.

The new association aims to become a point of contact for these different groups and to help identify practical solutions.

Why the Pitiusa Lizard Matters to Ibiza and Formentera

The Pitiusa lizard, scientifically known as Podarcis pityusensis, is an endemic reptile associated with Ibiza and Formentera and forms part of the natural heritage of the islands.

It is included in the Balearic Catalogue of Threatened and Specially Protected Species in the vulnerable category, according to the regional government's conservation information.

The spread of invasive snakes has become a serious concern for the species. These predators threaten native lizard populations and have prompted conservation efforts and measures aimed at controlling their impact.

For many residents, the lizard is also closely associated with the traditional landscape of the Pitiusas, including dry-stone walls, gardens, rural properties and countryside habitats.

Serra's statement places particular emphasis on this connection, describing the species as part of the islands' history, landscape and identity.

She argues that protecting it should be a shared responsibility involving institutions, scientists, organisations and the wider community.

A New Chapter for Conservation Initiatives in the Pitiusas

With the establishment of Salvem ses Sargantanes de ses Pitiüses, Serra hopes to turn the controversy surrounding her private refuge into an opportunity to develop a more collaborative approach to conservation.

The association says it wants to work with existing organisations and public institutions, rather than replace them, and to encourage initiatives supported by scientific advice and appropriate legal procedures.

Its creation comes at a time when the protection of the Pitiusa lizard and the threat posed by invasive snakes are receiving renewed public attention.

Serra's closing message is that the focus should remain on the species itself, rather than on the disagreement surrounding one private initiative.

Her stated ambition is for the new organisation to help bring people together around a common cause: protecting the native wildlife and natural heritage of Ibiza and Formentera.