A week of submersion in nature, in typically Menorcan countryside, forty backpackers arriving from all the villages of the island, boys and girls between 6 and 12 years old, eager for knowledge and with excitement for an adventure. These were the ingredients for those who were on summer camp this year in Mongofra Nou. It was a week full of activities, learning, friendships and adventures in living. Continue reading Forty Responsible Backpackers
Introduce a new member and bring them to the Aglaia concert free
This summer there are some important musical dates in Menorca. One of them is the concert to be given on 16 August by Anna Ferrer and Clara Peya in Mercat des Claustre (Mahon). If you become a GOB member recommended by an existing member both of you will be able to have free entry to the concert. The number of places is limited. Continue reading Introduce a new member and bring them to the Aglaia concert free
Visit the Animal Hospital this summer
From Monday 1 July we are opening the Wildlife Animal Recovery Centre to the public on Mondays to Saturdays from 18.00 hours to sunset, until the end of September. This is an opportunity of being able to see, close up, the wild animals that are symbolic of Menorca, to know their problems and see how this hospital tries to remedy them. Continue reading Visit the Animal Hospital this summer
Increased building control
Building on rural land without licence is not always worthwhile. Some resolutions of the island Consortium on urban discipline translate into demolitions and large fines. The Consortium is an organ created in Menorca by agreement of all the town councils and the Consell Insular to avoid uncontrolled building on rural land. Its creation was decided after the repeated inability, both technically and politically, by the town councils to tackle this problem, which after a while resulted in the hundreds of illegal buildings becoming very difficult to manage. Continue reading Increased building control
Saturday 29, workshop on how to treat the problems of the kitchen garden
With the arrival of the summer and its heat and humidity, problems appear in the kitchen garden: fungus, lice… Saturday, 29 June at 10, we are having a workshop at Es Viver of GOB where the problems will be explained as well as how to recognise and treat them with respect to the environment. The workshop is open to the public, is free and there is no need to make a reservation. Continue reading Saturday 29, workshop on how to treat the problems of the kitchen garden
Common Environmental Problems of the Balearic Islands
The GOB Interisland Board of Directors met in Menorca to deal with questions that are of concern to the whole of the Balearic Islands. Mass tourism affects a large part of the Balearic territory, where there is still much land threatened with urbanization. It is also urgent to tackle waste, energy transition and the search for a more sustainable economy. Continue reading Common Environmental Problems of the Balearic Islands
The marine environment becomes part of the Reserve of the Biosphere
An area of some 20 kilometres of sea around Menorca has become part of the Reserve of the Biosphere, which, until now, included only land. UNESCO approved the addition on 5 June in Paris. This declaration is something which will be very helpful for enabling protection in the future. GOB celebrates the designation and the encouragement it gives to working for the rational conservation of the marine environment. Continue reading The marine environment becomes part of the Reserve of the Biosphere
Sign the petition for public monitoring of the Central Power Station
The emissions from the Central Power Station in Mahon are worrying because of their potential adverse effects on the environment and the health of the people. GOB is sending written requests to the Balearic Government for the installation of a meter system to be made available to the public so that anyone can make current readings of the levels of contamination from the power station. You can sign here (https://www.gobmenorca.com/firma-per-un-control-public-de-les-emissions-contaminants-a-menorca). Continue reading Sign the petition for public monitoring of the Central Power Station
Maintaining the agricultural ethnological heritage
The preservation of Menorca’s cultural, ethnological and natural heritage was the principal reason for the volunteer working day organised by GOB in the Turmadèn des Capità farm near Alaior. This is a farm that has signed up to the Land Stewardship Scheme. Continue reading Maintaining the agricultural ethnological heritage
Microplastics and polystyrene in the Marine Reserve
A large volume of needless plastic and a great deal of broken plastic bits. This comes from the cleaning of the shore that GOB organised for 9 June in the area to the west of Cala Tirant. In total, more than 130 kilos of rubbish was collected of which more than 125 kilos were plastics and petroleum derived materials such as expanded polystyrene and ropes. If this is compared with other areas we have cleaned along the shore we see that the quantity collected seems to be less than we find normally, but it has to be borne in mind that a significant amount of this rubbish collection was made from the so called micro plastics, pieces of small plastic. As the area cleaned was a macar (a stony beach), the micro plastics accumulate between stones and are difficult to extricate. Continue reading Microplastics and polystyrene in the Marine Reserve