The Group for Ornithology and Nature Conservation (GOB), Terraferida and Less Tourism, More Life have warned that the amendment to the coastal law included in the so-called ‘omnibus bill’ will reduce protection for natural areas along the Balearic coast, especially in places like Es Trenc, and will lead to greater flexibility in coastal land use.
This was declared on Thursday by the Vice President of the Government of the Balearic Islands (GOB), Tonina Siquier, in a press conference, during which she explained the reasons for the human chain organized for Sunday, July 5 at 10:00 a.m., in the parking lot of the sa Ràpita Nautical Club, in defense of Es Trenc and the Balearic coast.
As he explained, the reform removes the requirement for parliamentary approval to modify key aspects of the legislation, which, in his view, reduces institutional oversight and makes it easier to change the protection granted to these areas.
In this regard, organizations have criticized the reform as a PP ‘strategy’ to ‘gradually weaken the instruments for protecting natural areas,’ especially in the case of natural resource management plans (PORN).
As has been explained, the so-called “omnibus bill” removes the requirement for parliamentary approval to modify four key aspects of the legislation: the designation of natural areas requiring special protection, the level of protection granted to the territory, the limits on permitted construction projects, and the restrictions on certain tourist activities.
According to the associations, these changes mean that decisions that until now required parliamentary approval will now be made by the Governing Council, without any debate in the Chamber or public participation.
Removal of existing prohibitions
They have also noted that this amendment will make it “easier” to eliminate certain prohibitions currently in effect by law, including those related to the installation of energy generation infrastructure, overhead power lines, and certain intensive fishing and shellfish harvesting activities, among others.
In the case of Es Trenc, they have pointed out that the reform affects the law designating the marine-terrestrial nature reserve by relaxing the regulations governing the classification of areas of special natural interest with a high level of protection, as well as the restrictions on construction and the control of tourist activities.
Meanwhile, environmental organizations have warned that the regulatory change could lead to a review of the criteria governing seasonal beach services, which would affect the planning of facilities such as beach bars along the Balearic coast, as it would increase the maximum number allowed.
Organizations have also criticized the fact that the reform simplifies procedures for modifying environmental plans, reducing the public consultation period to 20 days in cases considered ‘spot‘.
In their view, this definition is broad and can apply to changes that do not substantially alter the objectives or zoning of protected areas, which, as they have warned, limits public participation in the regulation of these areas.
Prohens insists that Es Trenc will not be left unprotected.
The President of the Regional Government, Marga Prohens, has described the demonstration organized by the main environmental organizations against the removal of protection for Es Trenc as “based on lies” and reiterated that the natural park will not undergo any changes. She made these statements at the press conference following Thursday’s Government Council meeting, held exceptionally in Ibiza, when she was asked about the human chain.
The protest, scheduled for July 5 under the slogan ‘Save Es Trenc!’, is “based on lies and assumptions that are not true and never will be,” the president stated. “They talk about saving Es Trenc as if it were in danger, but I want to be very clear: Es Trenc is, has been, and will continue to be protected under this Government,“ she emphasized. The only change made through the omnibus bill, Prohens maintained, is the way the management of the natural park could be amended.
