Further simplification and complementary activities in the Tramuntana mountain range: This is what the new law will be like

PalmThe future standard for the Tramuntana mountain rangeThe draft regulations, which are already in the public consultation phase, will prioritize administrative simplification "to prevent protection from becoming an obstacle to land management" and will allow "the development of complementary activities compatible with conservation." This was announced by the island council's governing team at the presentation of the draft regulations this Wednesday. The president of the Council of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, explained that the future regulations "avoid prohibitions and are based on collaboration, administrative simplification, and sustainable economic development."

The regulations aimed at protecting and improving the management of the Serra de Tramuntana will expand the existing protected area to include properties and zones historically linked to the region that were excluded from the initial designation established by UNESCO when it declared the area a World Heritage Site. Furthermore, they create a heritage impact assessment process for any action that affects the values ​​defining the cultural landscape. In addition, the Serra de Tramuntana Consortium—the sole management authority for the cultural landscape—will develop a system of indicators to evaluate the impact of visitors and determine the territory's carrying capacity to prevent negative effects. This body will have its own staff and budget and will oversee aspects related to the management of cultural and territorial heritage, as well as economic initiatives linked to local products and the land. The 18 municipalities that comprise the Serra de Tramuntana, the regional ministries of Economy and Agriculture, and other departments of the Consell (Island Council) will participate. With the aim of preserving the landscape, the regulation will simplify procedures for actions related to agricultural holdings, such as the reconstruction of dry stone walls and the recovery of abandoned crops. Furthermore, improvements to buildings linked to agricultural activity and traditional constructions will be permitted "always with a municipal license, in compliance with environmental regulations, and without increasing their volume or height, to guarantee their conservation and functionality." To ensure the economic viability of farms and prevent their abandonment, the law will allow the development of complementary activities. The text also incorporates measures to mitigate light and noise pollution. Thus, the recreational use of quad bikes on unpaved roads is prohibited, and the possibility of limiting the number of annual activities is considered to ensure compatibility with the conservation of the land and the quality of life of residents. The island council also anticipates that the Serra de Tramuntana Consortium will restrict access to certain areas when overcrowding occurs, and will also prevent activities from taking place under suitable conditions whenever necessary to ensure compatibility with certain hunting activities. It also incorporates a graduated sanctions regime with fines that can reach up to one million euros in the most serious cases, such as causing forest fires, causing serious damage to heritage sites, and carrying out unauthorized activities.

"Three years late"

The spokesperson for the PSIB (Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands) in the Council of Mallorca, Catalina Cladera, criticized the fact that the draft bill for the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is "three years late" and questioned whether it truly protects the Serra's UNESCO World Heritage status. After learning the general outlines of the bill, Cladera first lamented the "delay" of the legislation, noting that if the text her group promoted in 2023 had been approved, the law would already be in effect. The draft bill must be approved by the island council and then processed as a full bill in Parliament. In this regard, the socialist expressed her doubts about whether the law will be able to come into force during this legislative term. "If it doesn't, it will be four years lost," she said. Regarding the content of the law, the spokesperson indicated that the spokespeople for the political groups were briefed on its basic principles this Wednesday, but that their questions about the agreement between the PP (People's Party) and Vox remained unanswered. "We're asking ourselves what's behind the simplification of procedures in the Serra de Tramuntana that they're now announcing the law promises, especially after the agreement with Vox," Cladera stated. She thus accused the far right of supporting the over-tourism of the Serra de Tramuntana and of denying climate change.