What native plant species in Mallorca are most threatened by the spread of invasive species?

Mallorca, with its unique Mediterranean climate and diverse ecosystems, is home to a variety of native plant species that face increasing threats from invasive species disrupting their natural habitats. Among the most vulnerable are endemic and regionally rare species, such as the Balearic Box (Buxus balearica) and the Mallorcan Cistus (Cistus heterophyllus). These plants have adapted over centuries to the island's specific soil and climate conditions but are now struggling to compete with more aggressive, fast-spreading invasive species introduced either accidentally or through human activity.

Invasive plants such as the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and various Acacia species have spread rapidly across Mallorca, altering soil composition and shading out native flora. This encroachment is particularly damaging in woodland and scrubland areas where species like the Balearic Box, an important structural element of the native maquis shrubland, reside. The displacement of these native plants by invasive species not only reduces biodiversity but also affects the broader ecological balance, impacting pollinators and other wildlife that depend on the indigenous vegetation.

The threat is compounded by challenges such as climate change and land development, which reduce the resilience of native plant communities. Conservation efforts are underway, focusing on habitat restoration and the control of invasive species, but the pace of invasion tends to surpass these initiatives. Protecting Mallorca’s native plants requires continued monitoring, public awareness, and coordinated action to manage invasive species before further irreversible damage to the island’s natural heritage occurs.