The Government advances the renewal of management plans for three protected natural areas

Following yesterday’s publication (Tuesday, 28th of July) in the BOIB, the Government has officially launched the revision of the Management and Use Plan (PRUG) for the S’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park, as well as the revision of the Natural Resources Management Plans (PORN) and the drafting, for the first time, of Management and Use Plans (PRUG) for the S’Albufereta Nature Reserve and the Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell and Els Illots de Ponent Nature Reserve.

The Government of the Balearic Islands has taken a further step in renewing the planning instruments for the region’s protected natural areas with the publication in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) of the initiation of five planning procedures affecting three protected areas across the archipelago: S’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park, S’Albufereta Nature Reserve, and the Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell and Els Illots de Ponent Nature Reserve.

Specifically, the Government has launched the revision of the Management and Use Plan (PRUG) for S’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park; the revision of the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN) and, for the first time, the drafting of a Management and Use Plan (PRUG) for the S’Albufereta Nature Reserve; as well as the revision of the PORN and the first-ever drafting of a PRUG for the Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell and Els Illots de Ponent Nature Reserve.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, stated: “We continue to take firm steps to ensure that all protected natural areas in the Balearic Islands are equipped with updated planning instruments that guarantee effective management adapted to today’s environmental challenges. The procedures launched today represent a major step forward in strengthening the protection of our natural heritage and advancing the renewal of all these planning instruments.”

The newly launched procedures will update planning instruments that, in some cases, have been in force for more than two decades. The Management and Use Plan (PRUG) for S’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park, approved in 1999, will be revised to reflect current environmental, social and regulatory realities. Likewise, the Natural Resources Management Plans (PORN) for the S’Albufereta and Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell and Els Illots de Ponent nature reserves, in force since 2001 and 2002 respectively, will also be updated.

In addition, both the S’Albufereta Nature Reserve and the Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell and Els Illots de Ponent Nature Reserve will, for the first time, have a Management and Use Plan (PRUG), an essential planning instrument that regulates land uses, establishes management criteria and defines the actions needed to ensure the conservation of their natural values.

In this regard, the Director General for Natural Environment and Forest Management, Anna Torres, said: “This initiative further consolidates a modern, rigorous and science-based approach to the management of protected natural areas, ensuring that they have the planning tools needed to address biodiversity conservation challenges, adapt to emerging environmental pressures and preserve the Balearic Islands’ natural heritage for future generations.”

The revision and preparation of these five planning instruments will make it possible to incorporate the scientific knowledge gained in recent years, adapt management to the impacts of climate change, strengthen the conservation of habitats and species, improve the regulation of public use, and move towards more effective, modern and sustainable management.

Through these actions, the Government continues to advance the renewal of planning instruments for the protected natural areas of the Balearic Islands. Once these five procedures are underway, virtually all protected natural areas will have planning instruments that are either approved or currently under revision or preparation. The process will be completed before the end of the year with the launch of the revision of the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN) for S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the last remaining planning instrument awaiting updating.

This initiative forms part of the strategy promoted during the current legislative term to update the planning instruments for protected natural areas and the management plans for the Natura 2000 Network. With the ongoing preparation of eight management plans covering a total of twenty-three Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), the Government continues to strengthen the management and conservation tools safeguarding the archipelago’s natural heritage.