Balearic Islands Improves Its Farming Landscape to Curb Rural Deterioration

Restoration of dry grassland and replanting of trees in traditional agricultural areas

What does it consist of?

A regional plan has funded actions to restore farmlands in the Balearic Islands, focusing especially on dry stone walls in the Tramuntana Mountains and Menorca, and replanting trees in Raiguer. The goal: to protect the traditional structure of the countryside and its environmental value.

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Data

PROJECT TITLE IN THE CALL
Agricultural landscape. Improvements in the traditional agricultural sector
LOCATION
Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera
Entity submitting the PROJECT
Govern de les Illes Balears
Entity that executes the project
Fons de Garantia Agrària i Pesquera de les Illes Balears (FOGAIBA)
Project code
ITS2018-025
Total project amount
4.000.000 €
ITS granted amount
4.000.000 €
Executed amount
3.143.359 €
Call year
2018
Execution status
Executed
Purpose
Environment
Budget execution
Executed: 78.58%
Last data request
03.02.2023

The project

The farming landscape of the Balearic Islands is the result of centuries of interaction between human activity and the environment. In a context of rural depopulation and climate change, these lands require active measures for their conservation. For this reason, the Government has launched a plan to restore traditional dry stone structures known as marges and paret seca, and to reintroduce woody species typically found on dry land.

The actions have prioritised areas with landscapes of environmental importance, such as the Tramuntana Mountains, Menorca and Raiguer de Mallorca. Funding for farmers and farm owners has been granted to restore dry-stone structures and plant tree varieties adapted to more extreme climate conditions, such as almond, carob, fig, plum and olive trees.

These actions have helped to curb soil erosion, improve water infiltration, prevent fires and conserve biodiversity. At the same time, they have boosted the viability of traditional farming, which is increasingly threatened by the loss of profitability and growing pressure from urbanisation in rural areas.

The plan was executed between 2018 and 2019, with an overall investment of €3.1 million funded by sustainable tourism tax. Most of the actions took place in Mallorca, followed by Menorca and Ibiza.