Tribute from GOB and OCB to Xesc Moll, a key figure in culture and environmentalism in Mallorca

AndratxThe public estate of La Trapa was the setting today for a tribute to Francesc Moll i Marquès, known as Xesc Moll, one of the most important figures in Mallorcan culture and environmentalism. The event, organized by GOB Mallorca, the Obra Cultural Balear (OCB), and Nova Editorial Moll, aimed to recognize the crucial role Moll played in the consolidation and direction of both organizations. Far from a mere formality, the tribute had a strong symbolic and activist component. The choice of La Trapa was not accidental: Moll was one of the key figures in the public reclamation of the estate when he presided over GOB between 1978 and 1981, a pivotal moment for Mallorcan environmentalism. The event included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, speeches by representatives from the cultural and environmental sectors, as well as from the honoree's personal circle. A musical performance by the duo Atrapados, formed by members of the estate's volunteer group, further emphasized the event's commitment. During the speeches, emphasis was placed on the contrasting models that Moll successfully navigated throughout his career: unfettered development versus the defense of the land and culture as a tool for social transformation. Both the GOB and the OCB agreed in describing him as a figure of consensus, capable of combining technical rigor with a long-term strategic vision. The son of philologist Francesc de Borja Moll, Xesc Moll directed Editorial Moll for decades and was a founding member of the GOB. He actively participated in some of the island's main environmental battles, such as the defense of the Albufera and Dragonera lagoons, and briefly held institutional positions, always with a critical and independent perspective. The organizing entities also wanted to highlight the figure of Matilde Echeto, his wife, whom the GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group) considers essential to understanding Moll's civic and personal commitment. Today's tribute served to solidify Xesc Moll's legacy in the very landscape he helped to preserve and to demonstrate the widespread recognition of a figure who marked an era in the struggle for language, culture, and territory in Mallorca.