San Javier Council has put out to tender a contract worth just over €160,000 to protect its municipal palm trees from the red palm weevil, one of the most serious threats to ornamental palms in south eastern Spain. The programme will cover palm trees in parks, gardens, natural areas and along roadsides throughout the municipality.

The contract includes preventive, palliative and curative treatments for a wide range of species, including Phoenix, Washingtonia, Livistona and Trachycarpus palms. A key method will be endotherapy, where treatments are injected directly into the trunk, reducing chemical drift and the risk of environmental contamination.

Biological controls such as nematodes and the fungus Beauveria bassiana are also included. The council has stressed that all measures must minimise risks to people, pets and wildlife, particularly given the proximity of the Mar Menor.

The initial contract term is two years from award, with the option of two one year extensions, up to a maximum of four years. The aim is to halt the spread of the pest and secure the long term future of one of San Javier’s most recognisable natural features.