The Balearic Government has recently launched an investigation to find out whether the dunes of S’Espalmador, a protected area of ​​the Ses Salines natural park in Eivissa and Formentera, were damaged during the filming of the video. So far, there is nothing strange about it, nor does it explain why the Government’s decision has made headlines in the media in the UK or the US. What is surprising, and what makes the case truly exceptional, is who the Balearic authorities are focusing on: the very popular Californian singer Katy Perry. hits Like, ‘I kissed a girl.’

For now, the Ministry of Natural Environment is already warning that the American recorded his latest video clip without the Government’s permission, so it is investigating what happened.

What happened? The Government of the Balearic Islands has decided to launch a special investigation. Not because of its form or substance, but because of the person in focus: the famous American singer Katy Perry, who decided to shoot the video clip of her song “Lifetimes” on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera.

Of course that’s not the problem famous Pitiusas was chosen as the setting for his latest music video, but how did the production company responsible for recording it manage to do so? The Balearic Government confirmed yesterday, following the criticism the video generated, that the company had not sought permission to shoot in the Ses Salines Natural Park, a protected area.

So what did the Balearic Government say? First, the production company responsible for directing Perry’s video clip in Ibiza never requested permission from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment. Second, precisely because of this situation, it decided to take measures and activate the administrative mechanism to investigate what happened.

“Given the numerous reports of alleged violations committed by the company responsible for the filming of Kate Perry’s video in Ses Salines Natural Park, Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, I would like to clarify that in no case did the producer request permission to transport the video. The regional government announced on Tuesday that the filming had been cancelled and that actions had therefore been initiated prior to the investigation.

But… what’s at stake? The government was quick to clarify that no one had asked for permission to film and that it was currently investigating what had happened, but it also noted that in any case there could be no talk of “crime against the environment”.

The reason: the shooting of photographic reports or videos is a “permitted” activity. Of course, the regional organization remembers that the legislation is clear on this issue: in order for this to be done in advance, permission must be obtained from the Ministry, as well as from other public institutions or persons who may be involved.

What is the key? There would be two of each. Lack of permits. And the environmental value (and resulting conservation) of the environment Perry chose to record her video for ‘Lifetimes’, shot on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera. The less than four-minute recording shows the star jumping and dancing in a variety of natural environments, including in the middle of the city, in a nightclub, on the beach, on a boat and in the Efe provinces and S’Espalmador dune system. The agency also explains that she did this in an area restricted by ropes.

Perry would have been there. And of course the recording equipment. EFE explained again that key to the government’s investigation would be whether some sort of environmental damage was done to the dunes on the islet during filming.

In which locations was it filmed? In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment of the Balearic Islands speaks of the recording of a video in Ibiza and specifically mentions the Ses Salines Natural Park, a conservation area located between Ibiza and Formentera that has been in this thought for more than 20 years.

Balearic authorities present it as “a clear example of the rich biodiversity of the Mediterranean” and highlight its “uniqueness” due to the role it plays in bird migration routes. “As a Natural Area of ​​Special Interest, it contains a wide variety of terrestrial and marine habitats of great ecological value.”

So what is S’Espalmador? Much of the controversy stemmed from recordings made in a very specific spot in the park, the protected dunes of the islet of S’Espalmador, north of the island of Formentera. This is not just any area. Balearic authorities emphasize that the Ses Illetes group and the islet of S’Espalmador “constitute the best-preserved dune system in the Balearic Islands.”

Both are part of the natural park, but at least S’Espalmador has something special: its special character. About six years ago, a Luxembourgish family bought it for the considerable sum of around 18 million euros, but when they did, they also took responsibility for complying with the regulations.

Images | Eva Rinaldi (Flickr) and Màrcio Acevedo (Unsplash)

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