Tag Archives: Preservation

Platges de Fornells, no water for more villas and hotels

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In the development of Platges de Fornells, procedures have begun to allow the construction of 116 villas and 297 hotel beds. During the environmental assessment phase, GOB has written to the Balearic Government to warn that there is no water available in the aquifer.

This development in the north of Menorca started its procedures in 1969, when it was declared a National Tourism Interest Centre by the Francoist Ministry of Tourism. Construction began in the 1980s, and the Island Territorial Plan of 2003 redefined its configuration, as happened with many other planned tourist growths.

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Excursion on territorial aggressions. Saturday 29

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This coming Saturday begins Via Menorca’s programme of excursions to learn about those emblematic aggressions that have been carried out on the island. It will be a walk that combines landscape, campaign activities and information on the damage that has taken place recently.

With little difficulty (only two climbs on the Camí de Cavalls), it will start at 10 a.m. and finish around 1:30 p.m. To organise logistics properly, you must register through this form. When signing up, you will find the rest of the details.

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UNESCO halts the large Rafal Rubí bridge project

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Menorca’s organized civil society has achieved another victory in the conservation of the island’s landscape values. UNESCO has taken a position on the controversy surrounding the double-level roundabout that the Island Council intends to build at Rafal Rubí and has requested that the works be stopped and that a less impactful alternative be sought — precisely what civic entities have been asking for.

Several cultural, social, and environmental associations have jointly demanded that the design of the Rafal Rubí junction respect the guidelines established by UNESCO when Talayotic Menorca was declared a World Heritage Site.

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A dangerous agrarian law for farmers

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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.

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Manifesto for the defence of Cala en Busquets

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Several civic organisations have analysed the dry marina project promoted by Ports de les Illes Balears at Cala en Busquets and have agreed to work together to try to stop the initiative.

The planned intervention in this cove of Ciutadella’s port aims to install a dry marina with capacity for 120 boats, as well as to build a large concrete esplanade and a vertical wall. This would have a major landscape impact and would further increase the nautical pressure on the port.

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Addaia marina: the expiry that never comes

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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.

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The regenerative aquaculture as a marine resilience strategy

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The general interest of the population towards the sea is growing considerably year after year. Therefore, the activities carried out there have multiplied. Thus, the anthropic pressure and threats affecting the habitats of the seabed have also increased, with a significant impact on the coastline.

Specifically, in the port of Maó, the phenomenon of commercial boating has skyrocketed, with constant expansions of facilities that end up being occupied at speculative prices. It is a growing market, but one that corresponds to a seasonal operation, which ends up displacing local boats of a more social kind, transforms spaces with natural values within the port, and which, for years now, has exceeded the island’s nautical carrying capacity.

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GOB calls for transparency in the Territorial Plan

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Last week, a round table on the Island Territorial Plan was held at the Ateneu de Maó. The two rooms of the venue were filled. The event was recorded, and the session has already exceeded a thousand views.

These figures show the great public interest generated by the attempt to make a punctual modification of this instrument, which is one of the main foundations of Menorca’s distinctive model.

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