Posidonia, also known as Neptune grass, is one of the oldest underwater plants in the world. There is a Posidonia seagrass meadow between Ibiza and Formentera that is estimated to be over 100,000 years old. This seagrass meadow has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

Why is Posidonia so important for Mallorca? Posidonia is an important part of the ocean's ecosystem. You've probably seen it in Mallorca, and maybe you've even complained about it. Washed up on the beach, it leaves behind unsightly clumps of semi-dried seagrass balls. Sometimes it even smells a bit. When washed up in the sea, it turns the water brown, making it unpleasant for many to walk through. The small, round balls you see floating around on the beach are also part of it. Many people wrongly complain about beaches polluted with algae. Posidonia really doesn't deserve this. Firstly, it's not an alga, and secondly, our ecosystem would collapse without it.

To sum it up: Posidonia is so important for Mallorca because

• Posidonia meadows are a habitat for fish and marine animals. Posidonia meadows store more carbon dioxide than forests of the same size. Posidonia meadows filter dirt particles and thus ensure clear water. Posidonia meadows protect beaches from erosion because they act like a reef and weaken waves.

Posidonia grass that washes up on the beach should not be removed, as it helps prevent excessive sand erosion during storms. Now that you know how important Posidonia is, you'll certainly see it differently the next time you're at the beach. And one more thing... please remember to brush sand off your clothes and empty your pockets when visiting the beach. It's estimated that every tourist brings home 100g of sand, and if you extrapolate that to the millions of visitors...

Cleanwave protects Posidonia through the Med Gardens initiative

Cleanwave.org is an environmental organization in Mallorca that is working to protect Neptune grass and has begun creating Posidonia gardens. Initial successes are already visible – but the plant grows very slowly. Water pollution, ship anchors, and climate change are unfortunately taking a heavy toll on Posidonia. This makes it all the more important that we contribute to its protection.

The Med Gardens initiative is planting new Posidonia gardens.

If you want to spot Posidonia, take a careful walk along the beach and look for it. The best places to see Posidonia are in Alcanada, in front of the small lighthouse island, or on the beach of Son Serra de Marina.

Holafinca provides small coloring books with a story about seagrass for all children vacationing on one of our fincas, so that even the youngest children can learn to protect Posidonia.