The action, financed by the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS), has a budget of 1.3 million euros and involves work on 125 hectares of forest on the archipelago. It will run until March 2026
The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment has launched the project ‘Experimental adaptation to climate change of the habitats of the Balearic Islands’, financed with 1.3 million euros from the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS). The main objective of the initiative, which runs until March 2026, is to adapt the archipelago’s forest habitats to climate change through active and sustainable forest management.
TDB keeps you informed. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment is launching a project to adapt the forest habitats of the Balearic Islands to climate change
The project foresees actions on a total area of 125 forest hectares, of which 35 are on the island of Mallorca, 25 in Menorca and 65 in the Pitiusas. The main actions envisaged are the reduction of competition between trees to increase the capacity to capture CO₂ and improve the vigour of the forest, as well as preventing large fires by creating strips of forest discontinuity. The aim is also to carry out silvicultural treatments to increase resistance and resilience to climatic impacts such as droughts, pests or fires and to facilitate the use of natural pastures with extensive livestock farming, thus improving the integration of agricultural activity with forest ecosystems.
In this regard, the Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, stressed the importance of mechanising forestry work: ‘This project reflects our commitment to fire prevention and the adaptation of forests to climate change. Mechanisation allows us to act more efficiently and safely, especially in areas that are difficult to access. In addition, it is essential to have a well-managed landscape that not only protects our forests but is also prepared to cope with the effects of climate change, such as recurrent droughts and forest fires.
The work includes the use of specialised machinery, which will enable mechanised clearing on steep slopes, improving efficiency and guaranteeing the operators’ safety.
It should be stressed that these actions align with the objectives of the Forestry Plan and the 4th General Plan for Defence against forest fires in the Balearic Islands. The aim is the conservation of forests, the prevention of forest fires, and the improvement of ecosystem services, with special attention to the role of the island’s forest areas as carbon sinks.