Tag Archives: Sustainability

Mulching the soil: less evaporation, more fertility

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Mulching the soil: less evaporation, more fertility

Next Friday, April 11, GOB Menorca is organizing a training session entitled “Saving water with soil mulching”, which will take place at the Binitord vineyards (Ciutadella). The course is aimed at farmers, horticulturists, and people interested in sustainable soil management. It will include both theoretical and practical components.

The session will be led by Raoul Ferrer, an agricultural engineer with expertise in regenerative agriculture and holistic management. We spoke with him to learn more about mulching and its applications.

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Join the biodiversity monitoring

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Do you love nature and want to spend time outdoors while contributing to an important cause? Every spring, a group of passionate volunteers interested in agriculture and biodiversity heads out into the Menorcan countryside to monitor bioindicators on farms participating in the Custòdia Agrària (Agri-environmental Stewardship) program.

The goal? To show how sustainable farming practices benefit biodiversity—while enjoying a unique experience in nature.

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On Menorca’s tourism carrying capacity

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Recently, details have emerged about the study on tourism carrying capacity commissioned by the Consell Insular de Menorca. The study proposes increasing the number of tourist accommodations across the island, including in traditional towns, tourist areas, and even rural land.

This is a serious concern, as the study is being used to justify lifting the current tourism moratorium. The GOB has released an initial response highlighting key issues.

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New Land Stewardship agreement for vegetable garden lands

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Just a year ago, S’Hortet de s’Algar was born on a plot of land in eastern Menorca that had long been abandoned. With passion and hard work, this project has flourished into a thriving, sustainable farm producing healthy food while caring for both the land and the people.

Now, S’Hortet de s’Algar has joined the Custòdia Agrària program of GOB Menorca, committing to farming without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers through regenerative agriculture techniques. The farm is currently in a transition period, awaiting its official organic certification.

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Training course: Water conservation through soil mulching

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Covering the soil reduces water evaporation. This can be done using various materials such as straw, wood chips, bioplastics, and, of particular interest, sheep wool. This traditional practice has regained attention as a way to mitigate drought effects and reduce reliance on conventional materials. It is a sustainable method that is gaining popularity in organic farming.

To promote this technique, we are organizing a practical training course at Vinyes Binitord (Ciutadella) on April 11th. The course will explore different mulching options, with special emphasis on the use of wool—a material that not only conserves water but also improves soil quality and protects crops from pests.

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Alliance for a sustainable agricultural sector

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During the first half of February, the Agrarian Custody team and the San Crispín Cooperative organized three focus groups to promote an alliance for transitioning the agricultural sector towards an agroecological and sustainable model.

These meetings have involved various stakeholders from administration, organizations, and agricultural businesses. Another session will soon be held with actors from the commercialization sector. These discussions have brought to light shared perspectives and valuable contributions across multiple areas, helping to identify many of the common needs of Menorca’s agricultural sector.

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The consultant behind illegal swimming pools is drafting Menorca’s Territorial Plan

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The two known cases of illegal swimming pools in Menorca’s agritourism establishments share a common link: the same environmental consultancy. Now, the Consell Insular has entrusted this firm with drafting the environmental section of the revision of the Island Territorial Plan (PTI). GOB Menorca considers this a major credibility crisis.

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Thursday, February 6: Launch of the “Resilience in the Face of Climate Change” series at Ateneu de Maó

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This February, the Ateneu de Maó will host a series of round table discussions focused on resilience in the face of climate change. Organized by the Ateneu de Maó, Menorca Preservation, and GOB Menorca, this series will explore the ecological concept of resilience through concrete experiences in four key areas: agriculture, forest management, tourism development, and the marine environment. Through presentations, discussions, and open debates, the series will highlight strategies and solutions to tackle climate change effects—especially those that require urgent implementation on an island like Menorca, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

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