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The Balearic Islands are territories heavily strained by tourist saturation. Menorca, which had been the island most shielded from this dynamic, has again broken records in the number of annual tourists (exceeding 1.7 million). Meanwhile, public money continues to be invested in tourism promotion, and there is no news of any limitation on tourist vehicles for the coming summer.
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More than one hundred people related to cultural heritage and its management from across the State — including professors, PhDs, members of ICOMOS, landscape experts, geographers, architects and museum directors — have signed a statement asking the Island Council of Menorca to halt a project that affects an area declared World Heritage.
This controversy arises from the intention to build a two-level roundabout at the Rafal Rubí junction, in the eastern part of the island and next to an archaeological site where, in 2013, work began but was halted due to the withdrawal of the contract. During this time, Menorca applied to be declared World Heritage because of its valuable Talayotic legacy, and UNESCO already requested that the half-built junction be removed because it constituted a very significant alteration of the landscape of one of the protected areas included in the candidacy. This request was explicitly repeated when Menorca received the World Heritage designation in September 2023.
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Today’s political and social debate is increasingly conditioned by polarization. The unrestrained leader of the Western bloc is setting an example with exaggerations and lies. His style has reached our lands.
The new strategy is to place all opinions into only two opposing blocs, in order to try to gain legitimacy among usual followers. At this point, inventing things to feed conspiracy theories poses no problem.
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The Plenary of the Constitutional Court has decided to admit the appeal lodged against the Balearic law that regulates the so-called “strategic residential projects.” This action has been promoted by different civic entities and has the formal support of more than fifty members of parliament from the Socialist, Sumar/Més and Mixed (Podem) groups, along with the involvement and work of their respective legal teams.
The Balearic Parliament approved Law 4/2025, known as the law on strategic residential projects, which allows the construction of houses on rural land without previous service provision in municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants, as well as on urban and developable land in municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants.
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The evening was falling over the dark rocks of the north when the shoreline fishermen approached. A thick fishing line wound around a piece of cork, with a sizable hook, was the system used to try to catch moray eels and conger eels—sea predators that, in those years of scarcity, served to make fish soup.
To increase the chances of catching something, besides casting the baited hook in a suitable place and tying the line firmly to the ground, they also poured into the sea a liquid filled with blood and fish remains. Species that live by preying on others have keen senses to detect where there may be potential food—such as a wounded prey.
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GOB is an organisation that receives many citizen reports related to environmental issues. The association’s 48 years of continuous work help explain why many people prefer to speak with GOB rather than with the public administration.
When these reports refer to environmental alterations or damage, the facts are verified and detailed information is sent to the competent administration. The level of activity varies depending on what is happening in the territory. When there are major operations in forest areas, many reports are received on that matter. When there is no surveillance of fishing, reports come in about illegal fishing, and so on.
Continue reading The Rural Land Consortium and the pending information
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The will to have more tools to face aggressive projects against the territory and its environmental values has generated a strategic alliance now being launched in Menorca. The RADA association and GOB have agreed to create a joint legal front.
RADA (Red de Abogados y Abogadas de Defensa Ambiental) is a national network of professionals who share resources and information to help each other in their work defending the environment—a group of environmental law specialists willing to help preserve the island.
Continue reading The Legal Front for the Environmental Defence of Menorca is born
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The draft Agrarian Law recently published by the Balearic Government could turn against farmers. Promoting economic activities that displace agriculture or removing environmental safeguards that protect soil fertility is not helping farmers—it is using them as an excuse to legislate in favour of other sectors. GOB has submitted objections.
Views: 265
Social and environmental organizations in the Balearic Islands have publicly announced the filing of a constitutional appeal before the Spanish Constitutional Court against the Balearic law regulating so-called strategic residential projects.
Continue reading Constitutional challenge against the “Strategic Residential Projects Law”
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In the Addaia area, bordering the Natural Park and the Natura 2000 zones, an expansion of the existing marina was planned long ago. The project practically foresaw doubling the installations area (see attached image).
The environmental impact assessment received a favourable report in 2015, ten years ago. The GOB has been submitting allegations and appeals at every stage of the process during this period.
