Experts warn of environmental decline in the Balearic Islands: "Forests are not compatible with the new climate scenario"

Joan A. Santana Morro, head of the Forest Management and Soil Protection Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, presented this Wednesday at the Estudi General Lul·lià, within the framework of the activities of the Climate Academy, a comprehensive analysis on the vulnerability of island forests to the climate crisis Climate change and its impact on island forestsAccording to Santana, the current forest "doesn't fit" with the new climate scenario of persistent droughts and thermal anomalies, which has triggered a decline in the island's forests. This, combined with the large accumulation of forest biomass and water stress, means that these forests are at real risk of suffering extreme and virulent wildfires that are beyond their capacity to be extinguished. The most critical risk, however, comes from pyroconvective fires. Pyroconvective fires are a type of highly virulent fire, not new, but which have been recorded more frequently in recent years, especially during the summer of 2025 in the fires that affected the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. These phenomena, fueled by a warmer atmosphere and a large accumulation of biomass, are capable of modifying the atmosphere and generating "fire precipitation," which releases a large amount of energy that far exceeds the physical limits of firefighting equipment and resources. For this reason, Santana emphasizes the need to seek solutions beyond fire suppression. "Extinguishment is the response, but the solution lies in the active management of the land," he asserts. Management that allows us to confidently face the challenge of climate change and enables the transition and adaptation of forest areas to the new climate scenario. Revitalizing rural activity

Santana urges the restoration of the agroforestry mosaic through prescribed burns, grazing land, preventative forestry, and sustainable forestry practices, among others. To achieve this, a vibrant rural sector, deeply connected to the land, is essential. This sector must provide security for the island's residents and, in turn, maintain diverse and rich forest areas that supply products and services to society. Action must be taken before it is too late to prevent the degradation and loss of quality of these areas, which are vital to the island's inhabitants.