The future of Balearic hiking depends on sustainability.

PalmThe Galatzó refuge hosted the 1st Symposium on Hiking and Trekking in the Balearic Islands on Saturday, a meeting organized by the Balearic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing and the Colonya Palma Muntanya Film Fest with the aim of promoting collective reflection on the present and future of this sport in the Archipelago.

For almost eleven hours, more than seventy participants—including hikers, technicians, guides, representatives of clubs and public institutions—met to analyze the current situation and discuss the challenges facing hiking in the Islands. Among the main topics discussed were the compatibility between the conservation of mountain habitats and public use, inclusive, safe, and sustainable hiking, and the need for close collaboration between clubs, institutions, and administrations.

A space for debate and shared ideas

The symposium, structured into six lectures and a final roundtable discussion, provided a forum for diverse reflections on mountaineering in the Balearic Islands. The speakers agreed on the importance of fostering a shared ethic focused on safety, sustainability, and mutual respect between disciplines.

One of the most discussed points was the role of hiking clubs and associations as key agents in bringing young people closer to the mountains and instilling values such as cooperation and environmental stewardship. Furthermore, the need to enhance training in both technical aspects—such as orientation, meteorology, and risk management—and environmental ethics was emphasized.

A more open and inclusive hiking

The symposium also highlighted the importance of adopting a more inclusive vision of mountaineering, one that recognizes and respects the diversity of mountain practices: climbing, trail running, Nordic walking, canyoning, and family hiking. "We all have the right to enjoy the mountains, but also the duty to preserve them," was one of the most repeated ideas.

In this sense, a more ethical and participatory regulation was advocated, one that not only determines where one can or cannot go, but also how one should go: with responsibility, knowledge, and respect for the natural environment.

Institutional commitment and territorial sampling

The event, which included collaborations from public and private institutions, concluded with a tasting of local products from the Tramuntana mountain range, a symbolic gesture that connected the debate on sustainability with the reality of the region.

According to the Balearic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing, this first symposium "has written an important page in the book of Balearic hiking" and has laid the foundations for a more conscious, cooperative, and respectful future for the natural environment.

Main conclusions

The symposium concluded with a clear consensus: the future of hiking in the Balearic Islands must be based on education, ethics, and sustainability. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen the technical and environmental training of mountain users and to promote a culture of respect for the natural environment. Hiking clubs and associations, according to the speakers, are key agents in transmitting these values and ensuring generational renewal. It was also emphasized that public administrations must plan the management of natural areas with participatory criteria adapted to the different user profiles. Finally, the conclusions document advocates for ethical, inclusive, and sustainable regulations that ensure harmonious coexistence between disciplines and the effective protection of the natural environment.