The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, has assured the GOB that "not a single square meter" of the es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos natural park will be unprotected.
The message was conveyed in a meeting with the environmental organization focused on natural environment conservation policies in the Balearic Islands, as detailed by the Ministry in a statement, a few days after the GOB called for reinforcing the protection of this area in es Trenc.
During the meeting, Simonet reiterated the Government's "firm commitment" to the defense of this enclave and stressed that it will continue to work to preserve its environmental values with technical rigor, dialogue, and respect for the current protection framework.
The meeting responds to the minister's intention to maintain constant dialogue with environmental organizations, in order to share the progress of the main conservation lines, gather their proposals, and advance in the protection of natural heritage.
In this context, the minister, the Director General of Fisheries, Antoni M. Grau, and the technical advisor of the Directorate General of Natural Environment and Forest Management, Pau Mercadal, have met with representatives of the GOB, led by its president, Joan Moranta.
The meeting, requested by the GOB after the renewal of its board of directors, took place, according to the Ministry, in a cordial atmosphere and with a willingness to collaborate between the parties.
"The protection of natural heritage can only be addressed through dialogue, scientific evidence, and the shared responsibility of all parties," said Simonet, adding that the Government "will always keep open" communication channels with environmental organizations.
The minister emphasized that one of the legislature's priorities is to update the management of protected natural areas through modern planning instruments that allow each zone to be managed with technical rigor, legal certainty, and a future perspective.
"We will continue working until all protected natural areas in the Balearic Islands have updated planning tools," he stated.
Simonet has recalled that, of the 20 planning instruments for protected natural areas that were expired or had never been approved at the beginning of the legislature, 19 are already being processed, some in their final phase, while the last one will initiate the procedure before the end of the summer.
Among these documents are the plans for the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of the Cabrera Archipelago; the Natural Site of the Serra de Tramuntana and the specific protection plans for the natural monuments of ses Fonts Ufanes and the torrent de Pareis, of the Natural Park of ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera and of the Natural Park of sa Dragonera; as well as for the natural parks of Mondragó, Península de Llevant and es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos.
The Ministry has also detailed the progress of the management plans for the Natura 2000 Network, with actions already initiated in Nord d'Eivissa, the Bays of Northern Mallorca, the North Coast of Menorca, the South Coast of Mallorca, sa Dragonera, the Muntanyes d'Artà, Puig Malet and Santa Eularieta.
These instruments are considered key to ensuring the conservation of habitats and species, and for a more effective and sustainable management of protected areas, so that all Sites of Community Importance (SCI) of regional competence become Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
The meeting also reviewed the development of the Marine Conservation Plan and assessed the main measures promoted during this legislature, such as the creation of the Marine Reserve of the Western Islands of Mallorca or the processing of the expansion of the Marine Reserve of the Freus d'Eivissa i Formentera.
The department has also focused on the new management measures applied in the Marine Reserve of Illa de l'Aire, in Menorca, and on the proposal for the new Master Plan for Use and Management (PRUG) of the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of the Cabrera Archipelago, which incorporates a new strict protection zone of 512 square kilometers in the Banc Emile Baudot.
The meeting also served to review the recovery and conservation plans for protected species, an area in which the Ministry has reiterated its budgetary commitment to continue promoting these instruments.
Regarding the control of goat populations, especially in areas such as the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serra de Llevant, the Directorate General of Natural Environment and Forest Management is preparing a study to provide an updated diagnosis.
Based on this analysis, a carrying capacity study will be carried out to define the most appropriate management measures based on technical and conservation criteria.
In relation to the Trapa path, the need to guarantee its correct maintenance has been emphasized. The Ministry will consider promoting improvement actions through the Annual Forest Fire Prevention Plan, given its relevance as a defense infrastructure against fire.
The spokespersons for the GOB have expressed their concern about the possible consequences of the upcoming solar eclipse regarding the increased risk of forest fires. The Ministry has explained that it is already working on preventive measures to minimize this danger.
The environmentalists have also raised the desirability of opening participation spaces in earlier phases of the development of planning instruments, before the drafting of the documents.
The Ministry has positively valued this suggestion and has committed to finding the most agile way to facilitate this participation within the framework of administrative procedures.
The meeting has also allowed for an exchange of views on other aspects related to the management of protected natural areas, the situation of protected species, and actions against invasive species.