Xisco Avellà, founder and historic president of GOB, dies

PalmXisco Avellà (Palma, 1957), founder and historic president of the GOVERNMENT He passed away this Monday in Palma. When discussing the environmental movement in Mallorca, the social influence of the GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group), and the consolidation of a strictly island-specific environmental awareness, his name inevitably comes up. A biologist, teacher, and tenacious activist, Avellà was one of the leading figures in the strategic shift that the GOB underwent in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period many consider pivotal in the modernization of conservationism in the Balearic Islands.

Avellà assumed the presidency of GOB Mallorca in 1989 and held the position until 1996, becoming the person who has led the organization for the longest period. This period coincided with profound changes in the island's territorial and tourism model: urban development pressure, the debate surrounding large infrastructure projects, and the protection of natural spaces were at a critical juncture. In this context, the public presence of a strong, well-organized GOB with the capacity to influence policy was crucial.

Emperor Xisco Avellà has been part of GOB's history from the very beginning. Despite being a minor and therefore unable to formally be included in the founding structure, he was present in 1973 when the organization was created. In fact, many veteran environmentalists consider his role to have been the most significant in structuring the environmental movement in the Balearic Islands.

From the field of biology to the front lines of activism

Trained in biology and professionally dedicated to teaching, Avellà had been an active member of the environmental movement since the 1970s. He belonged to that generation that transformed the GOB—originally an ornithological group—into a true social agent, capable of influencing land-use planning and environmental policy. His scientific expertise and methodological rigor permeated all his public actions: reports, campaigns, and statements from the GOB during his tenure demonstrated a progressive level of professionalization, which would eventually transform the organization into an informational and moral benchmark, capable of shaping environmental policies for successive governments.

Cabrera, La Trapa and the great battles of the nineties

Avellà's leadership of the GOB was key to the consolidation of Cabrera National Park. His subsequent participation—for almost two decades—on the Cabrera Board of Trustees confirms the extent to which the project was part of his personal commitment. The defense of the park remains, even today, one of the most valuable chapters in the history of Mallorcan conservation, capable of overcoming the interests of certain groups of sailors who, despite now enjoying the park's biodiversity, were then vehemently opposed to its protection. Other significant battles of the period were the mobilizations against certain urban development projects and, above all, the campaigns for the recovery and management of properties of high environmental value, among which La Trapa stands out. The GOB acquired it in the 1980s, and today it is also a symbol of resistance to development and commitment to the land. The purchase and preservation of this emblematic site, driven by the GOB with Avellà as a central figure, became a symbol of the mobilizing power of the environmental movement.

The GOB (Government of the Balearic Islands) marked an era of confrontation with major urban development interests, and place name by place name managed not only to save emblematic spaces, but also to create a collective awareness of the environmental, and even economic, importance of preserving natural heritage. The following campaigns stand out from that period:

• Cabrera: from 1986 to 1991: an intense campaign to protect the island, halt military maneuvers, and declare it a national park.
• Mondragó: campaign to stop its urbanization.
• No More Housing Developments: A global campaign to stop the avalanche of housing developments of the era.
• Les Covetes: campaign to stop its urbanization and achieve its demolition.
• Enough with golf courses: a global campaign that accompanied specific campaigns.
• No more marinas.
• Inca Highway: Campaign against the island's first major road infrastructure project.
• Campaign in defense of the Law of natural spaces and previously 'For a Dignified Catalogue'.
• Campaign against waste incineration.
• Monitoring the management of protected natural areas.

The Old Sailor and the Defense of the Sea

At the same time, Xisco Avellà carried out extensive scientific and outreach work on marine fauna. In 1986 he founded the Mediterranean Seal Fund, from which he promoted studies, fieldwork in North Africa, and publications on the subject. old sailor (Monachus monachus). Their contributions, always marked by scientific prudence, placed the Balearic Islands in the international debate on the recovery of the species and helped to make marine conservation a social priority.

At a time when many activists and scientists were building their careers through published works, Avellà's case is unique: he did not focus his conservationist work on publications as the main author. His written contributions were always linked to the GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group) and environmentalism, though he was the editor and a regular contributor to the magazine. The EcologistA fundamental instrument for disseminating reports, bringing order to the environmental debate, and giving the GOB its own voice. He also participated in yearbooks, reports, and technical materials on ecology and marine fauna, as well as in internal and outreach documentation for the GOB and the Mediterranean Seal Fund. In addition, he was responsible for the GOB library, a legendary place for environmentalism, where thousands of titles from all fields of environmental knowledge could be found. A few years ago, the GOB donated this treasure, cultivated by Avellà at the UIB. His leadership of publications and his commitment to establishing a solid environmental narrative were hallmarks of his tenure. Clear, rigorous, and scientifically sound communication allowed the GOB to connect with broader sectors of society, expand its membership base, and consolidate its public authority. A legacy that endures

When he stepped down as president in 1996, GOB Mallorca was a larger, more influential, and institutionally stronger organization than when he had taken office. The influence of those years remains evident in the group's organizational model, its relationship with institutions, and its approach to analyzing the territory. Xisco Avellà represents a generation that understood that environmentalism was not just about the occasional defense of a specific area, but a way of engaging with society: with data, perseverance, and a long-term vision. His name is now inextricably linked to the modern history of environmental protection in Mallorca.