TAIB Project S'Albufera is an intensive study of a coastal wetland and sand-dune complex in Mallorca. It was originally designed by Earthwatch Europe in collaboration with the authorities of the Parc Natural de S'Albufera. This led to the creation in 1999 of TAIB, The Albufera Initiative for Biodiversity group, which was set up to support environmental conservation at s’Albufera and more widely in the Balearic Islands through multi-disciplinary project work. TAIB comprises an independent team of scientists, drawn from the UK, Mallorca, Spain and other parts of Europe to evaluate the effects of a controlled management regime on biodiversity and the environment, assess the relative contributions to change made by management and outside factors (including climate change) and provide scientifically based guidance for conservation management planning. This is being achieved through the constant monitoring of indicator species, and functional analysis of the ecosystem with targeted studies, often in collaboration with internationally recognised scientists and research institutes. In addition, the Project specialises in biodiversity training and invites competent volunteers to assist in data collection and monitoring. This allows the project to gather an unusually extensive data set at relatively low cost.