GEN-GOB denounces the new agrarian law as a "death sentence" for the peasantry in the Islands.

PalmThe environmental group GEN-GOB has sent a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture requesting the withdrawal of the draft agricultural law, which is currently undergoing public consultation. They argue that the Balearic Islands Government "intends to deliver the final blow to the farming community," making it a target for investment funds and tourism companies to incorporate into "the islands' over-developed tourism sector," exacerbating the problem of dependence on tourism and "relegating farming to a marginal activity."

Environmentalists believe that the proposed agrarian law will spell the end for farmers in the Balearic Islands, rather than being a law that "defends the sector and its immeasurable contribution to the land in every sense." They argue that the law currently being processed "not only delivers the final blow to farmers," making them the new target of tourism speculation, "but also condemns protected natural areas and puts property and people at risk, always at the service of speculation." "It prioritizes interests over human lives," they lament. They explain that rural risk protection areas are once again being made buildable. "After witnessing the ferocious, completely uncontrollable fires unleashed by climate change, construction is being reinstated within forests, with the legislation washing its hands of any potential victims. And we're not even talking about biodiversity, which is clearly a nuisance to the Balearic government," they say.

Furthermore, they point out that the provisions that allow "the destruction of large areas of natural environment without even an environmental assessment make no distinction whatsoever between islands." As they explain, "the differences in size between Formentera or Ibiza and Mallorca, and the impact that this permissiveness may have on such limited territories, are not the subject of any kind of precaution or concern."

GEN-GOB believes that "the natural environment is being treated as an enemy to be fought" under this misnamed agrarian law, to the point of removing natural parks from the category of protected rural land. These parks have been, until now, the highest expression of environmental protection and were achieved "in many cases after intense and long struggles." This opens the door for them to cease being areas of protection and conservation of natural values, contrary to basic state legislation.

"A law that uses farmers to favor the tourism sector"

The GOB Menorca environmental group has expressed a similar view, arguing that favoring economic activities that displace agriculture, or eliminating environmental safeguards that protect soil fertility, "doesn't help farmers, but rather uses them as an excuse to legislate in favor of other sectors like tourism." The GOB has submitted objections. The Menorca environmentalists point out that the new text, to which they have submitted objections, "doesn't respond to the current needs of the agricultural sector." "In fact, it seems to abandon the idea of helping people who produce food and only wants to use rural land to relocate more real estate and tourism developments," they lament.

"There are no measures to incentivize adaptations to climate change or carbon sequestration, no adaptation of health requirements to the scale of small-scale artisanal producers, no provision for payments for ecosystem services; no incentives for natural pest control or to promote water harvesting. Thus, they argue that the legislation is heading towards a model that "avoids controls on activities that are not strictly agricultural, threatens aquifers, and seeks to change territorial and urban planning."

Urban development operations in rural areas

Similarly, environmentalists criticize the text for modifying the conditions for agro-stays, which until now allowed for up to six tourist accommodations only in the house where the farmer was registered. "Now the Government proposes that it no longer needs to be the farmer, nor does it have to be in the same house. Instead, the tourist accommodations (which increase to 10) could be built in any agricultural building constructed before 2015, which could be expanded by 20% of its original volume. This also fails to promote the preservation of the architectural heritage of B," they explain, adding that it allows for the authorization of new buildings in areas at risk of natural disasters such as floods, fires, landslides, etc. For all these reasons, the GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group) has requested its reconsideration, because it contradicts the precautionary principle and the safety of people.