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The different island sections of GOB met in Ibiza for the weekend of 9 July for the annual Board Meeting 2017. This meeting rotates annually between the Balearic Islands.

During the two days of work the main preoccupation of each branch was overcrowding on all the islands and the consequent environmental and social problems. Amongst the main subjects dealt with by the representatives of GOB Mallorca, GOB Menorca and GEN-GOB Eivissa, outstanding was the state of conservation of the Posidonia oceanica and the impact of a law to protect it which we hope will be approved as soon as possible. Also the lack of a biosecurity strategy, resulting in large problems of plagues such as the occurence of Xylella fastidiosa or the arrival of foreign snakes in olive trees for planting out in gardens, were subjects raised at the meeting. It was established that these are very important questions for all the islands and require firm action on the part of our administrations along with coordinatiing proceedings with a Balearic Strategy of Biosecurity.

Climate change was one of the subjects emphasised during this meeting and the need to work to modify the current mode of energy supply for the Balearics to guarantee its sustainability, as well as gaining the will for all the islands to have control of its use in the public domain as well as its provision.

Lastly, in the wake of the problems from the case of Can Xumeu (in Cala d’Hort, Sant Josep de sa Talaia (Ibiza) where reports do not consider the existence and, therefore, the impact of Genista dorycnifolia, GOB confirmed the need to guarantee the possibility of appealing the proceedings of the Balearic Commission on Environment (CBMA).

Among the agreements reached, the different Island branches promised to work together to coordinate the subjects mentioned above that they most clearly share.