Nine conservation organisations call on the regional government to guarantee transparency and participation in the development of management plans for marine protected areas

Nine Balearic conservation organisations have asked the Balearic government to guarantee transparency and citizen participation in the drafting of management plans for Natura 2000 marine areas under regional jurisdiction. In a letter signed by Arrels Marines, Marilles Foundation, GOB Mallorca, GOB Menorca, MedGardens, Menorca Preservation, Ibiza Preservation, Save the Med, and Shark Med and addressed to the Department of the Environment and Forest Management, the organisations demand that social, scientific, and environmental agents in the territory be allowed to participate in the drafting.

This letter is motivated by the regional government changing the methodology for drawing up these management plans. Although channels for participation have previously been open, the executive has changed its approach and entrusted the process to a public company without informing civil society. These management plans include the SCI Southern Marine Area of Ciutadella (ES5310036) in Menorca and the SCI Bays of Pollença and Alcúdia (ES5310005) in Mallorca.

As the organisations point out, these plans should not be drafted behind the scenes. They are calling for the inclusion of consultation and real involvement mechanisms in which both social agents (fishers, neighbourhood associations, etc.), scientists, and environmentalists from the territory can participate. These mechanisms should also be included during the plan drafting process, i.e., before the documents reach the final stage of formal public consultation.

The organisations understand and share the urgent need to move forward with the drafting and approval of these management instruments, but this should not be at the expense of participatory governance during the drafting process. Management plans are a key tool for ensuring the conservation of protected areas, as they set out the measures that will be applied in a given protected area to ensure its good conservation status.

The signatory organisations are clear: "To function and fulfill their objectives, management plans must respond to real needs. This can only be achieved by ensuring the real participation of the people and entities that know these marine protected areas best and work in them. This, combined with adequate resources, will help to ensure that these marine protected areas truly fulfill their function and help us to bring the Balearic Sea back to life."

Additional information:

Of the 49 areas in the Natura 2000 network under regional jurisdiction in the Balearic Islands, only 29 have an approved management plan. In terms of surface area, this means that of the 143,555.02 hectares of marine protected areas, only 48.1% have defined measures to ensure their conservation and ecological balance.