Tag Archives: Ecology

Listening or Hearing

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When the flower is full of nectar, the plant emits a specific vibration, inaudible to the human ear but perfectly detectable by certain insects. It is the call for a visit that will nourish the cycle of life. For this to happen, there must be no noise that hides the virtuous frequency that allows communication in nature.

We have long known that there are animals that communicate with sounds too low or too high to be directly noticed by us. The low notes of elephants travel kilometres across the savanna. Sperm whales emit a repeated burst, a kind of crackling sound, with distinct characteristics depending on the area where they usually live, much like our languages.

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Rerouting the Camí de Cavalls in Addaia

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In February 2021, five years ago now, three environmental organisations working in the Balearic Islands, two of them focused on Menorca, formally requested that the Island Council modify a section of the Camí de Cavalls that crosses the middle of the former salt flats of Addaia. These organisations are GOB, Societat Ornitològica de Menorca (SOM) and Societat Espanyola d’Ornitologia (SEO-Virot Balears).

The letter recalled the protection figures that apply to this area: Natural Park, ANEI with a high level of protection and the Natura 2000 Network (SCI and SPA). This protection is due to its great landscape and environmental value.

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Dangerous land

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The theory of no man’s land began as a somewhat rudimentary slogan, but it soon took root because of the usefulness it could offer at particular moments. Circumstances condition many things. When more developed societies carried out the occupation of other territories, it was necessary to dress it up with justification.

The strategy was to argue that no one was using that land. Without ploughing or sowing, it seemed abandoned. It was not difficult to spread the idea of lands that held no interest for those who had arrived previously. A line of reasoning that was very successful, to the misfortune of those who were already living there.

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The territorial corrupt practices of Menorca in carnival version

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Many people took part last Sunday in the carnival troupe organised within the framework of the Via Menorca campaign.

An initial group, dressed in suits and ties, carrying briefcases and documents, offered favourable reports and licences while €500 notes were exchanged. There was also a spectacular swimming pool (or perhaps it was a cistern?). A large roundabout related to Talayotic Menorca was also present, as well as several pages of the Island Territorial Plan.

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A Step Forward for the Menorca Agroecological Alliance: Collaborative project workshop

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The Alliance for Agroecology in Menorca is organising a Project Definition Workshop next Thursday, 19 February, at CentreBit Menorca (Av. des Camp Verd, 4, in Alaior), with the aim of opening up the participatory process launched a year ago and bringing new people and organisations into the transformation of Menorca’s agricultural sector towards a more sustainable, fair and territory-rooted model.

After a first year of work driven by a small core group, the Alliance wants to take a step forward and broaden the project’s social base. Promoting the agroecological transition — which links agricultural production and nature conservation — is a collective challenge that requires everyone’s involvement.

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Monitoring tropospheric ozone in Maó

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Ozone is a gas that has beneficial effects in the upper layers of the atmosphere, where it filters ultraviolet radiation. However, it becomes harmful when present near the Earth’s surface — in the troposphere.

Tropospheric ozone is a complex pollutant with no single direct human source. Instead, it forms through chemical reactions involving so-called precursor pollutants emitted by transport, thermal power plants, certain industrial activities and intensive livestock farming.

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GOB highlights the need for a Balearic Biosecurity Law at inter-island meeting

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Over the weekend of 31 January–1 February, GEN-GOB of Ibiza hosted the meeting of the inter-Island Board of GOB, the coordination body of the four island sections.

Participants in the meeting, representing the GOB sections from each island, agreed on the need to provide the Autonomous Community with a Biosecurity Law. This is an urgent matter, as the islands are currently unprotected against the entry of invasive species due to the absence of their own regulations. In addition, existing state, European and international regulations are poorly applied and are far from being a priority in the management of ports and airports. At the same time, biosecurity problems are worsening at an alarming rate. The most extreme case is Ibiza, where invasive snakes are wiping out the population of the native lizard.

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Roofless progress

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The Roman Empire had one of its main ports at the mouth of the Tiber River. Intense trade and the movement of people generated an important settlement near the capital. But everything went into decline when rainfall began to bring in large quantities of sediment.

It had always rained. But the enormous deforestation carried out in nearby forests to extract firewood resulted in unprecedented erosion. The port filled with earth and ships could no longer operate. Ignoring limits ended up sinking a prosperous economy.

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Es Mercadal faces difficult prospects for drinking water

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Declaring the sa Roca aquifer to be in poor condition and curbing large-scale consumption should be priorities in water management in Es Mercadal.

GOB has submitted objections to the Sustainable Water Management Plan of Es Mercadal and highlights a serious situation in the water reserves of the urban area supplied by the s’Albaida aquifer.

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Collective processing and regenerative livestock farming at the 2026 Agriculture and Environment Seminar

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Scientific knowledge, practical experiences and innovative models to promote more sustainable agriculture are the core of the programme of the nineteenth edition of the Agriculture and Environment Seminar. The sessions, to be held on 31 January in Es Mercadal (Convention Centre) and on 7 February in Maó (Audience Hall of the Claustre del Carme), will allow attendees to delve into topics such as the collective processing of organic pulses and cereals for food sovereignty, regenerative livestock farming, the state and management of soils, and the recovery of wild plants and traditional agricultural varieties.

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