The importance of caring for the little things

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and we couldn’t agree more.

Since 2020, the Audiovisual Contest for the Conservation of the Balearic Sea (MARE) has been working to reveal the richness of our sea through photography. MARE uses this tool to move us, captivate us, and connect us with the sea. It shows us—through the privileged eyes of hundreds of people—its beauty and its threats.

At MARE, we are deeply aware of the power of images to tell stories. That’s why, in collaboration with the Consell de Mallorca, the Sa Dragonera Natural Park, and the CEIP Es Molins school, and within the framework of the PRO.GRE.S.S. project, we carried out a responsible photography activity in Sa Dragonera that left a lasting impression on 12 students—and a fleeting one on the Natural Park itself.

Sa Dragonera is a very special place. One of the Marine Protected Areas in the Balearic archipelago. Conserving the Balearic coast and sea is essential for the islands’ wellbeing and prosperity. Being able to contribute to this process, adding our grain of sand to the Park and inspiring empathy for the natural richness of this environment, is a great opportunity we are truly grateful for.

After many weeks of work, we’d like to share with you this project that brings together some of the key pillars of MARE: photography, education as a tool for conserving the Balearic Sea, and the strengthening of the relationships that shape our community.

Blending environmental education, photography, “urban” art, and a great sense of humor, we dove into the world of children’s imagination to promote responsible behavior in our relationship with the natural world around us.

We had the chance to create a 30-square-meter participatory mural in a privileged space, and we wanted it to be truly special.

We began with two talks at the school itself—one on Sa Dragonera (led by technicians from the Consell Insular de Mallorca) and another on urban art and responsible photography. There, we discussed our purpose and how we would achieve it.

We decided that our protagonist would be Podarcis lilfordi giglioli, the Dragonera lizard, known locally as “sa dragoneta,” that little “dragon” endemic to the Natural Park, who welcomes visitors on sunny days. Like a game, we asked ourselves what would happen if it were much bigger, and this made us more aware of our own size compared to smaller beings, and how dangerous we humans can be to wild creatures.

After these workshops came the most eagerly awaited part: the practical session. We visited Sa Dragonera, camera in hand, and slowly got to know the island’s inhabitants—photographing them with care and learning to respect their spaces and rhythms, observing how their behavior changes when we adapt to them.

Like any good adventure, ours came with unexpected moments: a broken propeller on the boat that brought us to the island meant we had to return by speedboat, an exciting end to the experience for the kids—some of whom had never been on a boat before.

With all the photos they took—and only with the photos they took—we created a mural that now greets visitors as soon as they arrive at the port. We printed it on paper and pasted it on the wall, so it welcomes newcomers even before the island’s little residents do.

Although they had seen photos of it, today was the first time they saw their finished work on the wall. It was a very special day for them.

The seawater, rising through the cracks of the wall by capillarity, will eventually wear down and erase the mural—but what they learned will remain in their minds for a long time.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an experience is worth a thousand pictures.