Roads with a second purpose

28th April 2026 GOB Menorca

The construction of railways in North America was crucial to the colonisation of territories disputed with Indigenous tribes. The railway line that eventually connected east and west enabled the movement of goods, people and animals. It became one of the key elements in the transformation of those lands—a structural change that meant the definitive colonisation of Indigenous territories.

But there is no need to cross oceans to understand the relationship between infrastructure and its consequences for the places it connects. When land was still being subdivided in the countryside of Menorca, there was always some councillor pushing to pave rural roads in order to facilitate subsequent operations of parcelling and construction.

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Pere Fraga: “The landscape around us is the best school of gardening”

22nd April 2026 GOB Menorca

We speak with Pere Fraga i Arguimbau, botanist and expert in the flora of Menorca. Fraga is one of the co-authors of the Manual de jardineria sostenible i amb planta autòctona, per a una illa com Menorca (Sustainable Gardening and Native Plants Manual for an island such as Menorca), the latest publication by GOB Menorca, recently presented in Maó, Ferreries, and Ciutadella, and one of the organization’s highlighted new releases this Sant Jordi. We take this opportunity to talk about the manual and to ask him for some basic recommendations on how to apply the principles of sustainable gardening to home gardens and terraces.

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Renewable energies (2): Zoning and energy sovereignty

20th April 2026 GOB Menorca

This note is the second part of a reflection on the relationship between renewable energy and land use. It describes the situation in Menorca, which can be very different from other islands as well as from mainland Spain. For this reason, it is not appropriate to assume that what happens elsewhere is being replicated here, because that is not the case.

Over the past 20 years, several wind energy projects have been proposed in Menorca but have been halted for environmental reasons. At the same time, significant progress has been made in zoning suitable areas for photovoltaic energy, ensuring that spaces with environmental or landscape protection status are not considered suitable.

Anyone interested in understanding the differences and criteria applied in Menorca is encouraged to read the full text presented here.

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Renewable energies and territory: an ongoing debate (1)

17th April 2026 GOB Menorca

The development of solar parks near Sant Climent and Es Mercadal has once again reopened the debate between renewable energy and land use. This is an issue that is never easy to resolve wherever it arises, but it must be addressed calmly if a responsible approach is to be taken. Menorca has already experienced similar episodes in the past.

The occupation of rural land for energy production inevitably generates controversy, especially in a territory where this issue is particularly sensitive, as has repeatedly been shown on the island. However, what is happening in Menorca should not be confused with the clear environmental damage seen in some areas of mainland Spain, nor should it be assumed that rooftop solar alone can deliver the energy transition. The reality is more complex.

This note, together with a following one, presents the position and arguments of the environmental organisation GOB.

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Doubts about the second cable

16th April 2026 GOB Menorca

The recent announcement of a second electricity interconnection cable between Menorca and Mallorca raises several concerns regarding the effect it may have on the energy transition of our island, in addition to the environmental impacts that may be generated along its route. The GOB has submitted objections during the public consultation period.

The problem of surplus solar renewable energy during hours of peak sunshine, which Menorca’s demand cannot always absorb, is well understood. Faced with this situation, the institutional proposal is to install a second cable to facilitate the export of surplus renewable energy to Mallorca. However, it should not be overlooked that the objective of the energy transition in Menorca is to reduce the operating hours of the thermal power plant.

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Shooting at the islets

15th April 2026 GOB Menorca

The Partit Popular has presented an initiative in the Balearic Parliament to allow hunting on islets, ravines and inland cliffs. The proposal amends the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Law and removes the existing ban on hunting in these areas.

GOB Menorca wishes to express its rejection of this amendment, put forward by the Menorcan MP Jordi López, because these areas are considered to be of the highest environmental value. Three out of every four hectares of Menorca are already designated as hunting grounds.

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More than 100 educational centres in the Balearic Islands join GOB’s call for a fair school transport fare

9th April 2026 GOB Menorca

The call made by GOB last week to demand fair school transport fares has already received the support of more than one hundred educational centres in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, as well as more than a dozen associations of headteachers, families and trade unions. Support has continued to grow over the past few days, highlighting the increasing scale of a problem that has affected the entire educational community for years.

The rise in transport costs for educational outings is a recurring situation every year, especially with the arrival of the tourist season, when transport companies prioritise more profitable services linked to tourism. This year, the situation has been further aggravated by the increase in fuel prices, which has pushed already high costs even higher.

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Come and discover the biodiversity of Custòdia Agrària farms

7th April 2026 GOB Menorca

Would you like to spend time outdoors, in contact with nature, and help assess the state of biodiversity in our countryside? This spring, we are looking for volunteers to take part in monitoring bioindicators on farms with Custòdia Agrària agreements.

This activity is open to everyone, with no previous experience required. You will learn to observe nature from a new perspective and to interpret what it tells us about the health of farmland and its biodiversity.

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Conscientious Ecology