The Consell de Mallorca will present the draft of the new Serra de Tramuntana law in September, aimed at reinforcing the protection of its value as a cultural landscape, following the criteria established by Unesco.
This was announced on Thursday by the insular president, Llorenç Galmés, at the commemorative event marking the fourteenth anniversary of the declaration of the Serra de Tramuntana as a Unesco World Heritage Site held at the Raixa estate.
The event, chaired by the president of the Consell de Mallorca, was attended by around a hundred people, including the insular councilor of the Presidency, Antoni Fuster; the insular councilor of Finance and Public Administration, Rafel Bosch; the insular director of the Serra de Tramuntana, Antoni Solivellas; the manager of the Consortium, Lluís Vallcaneras, and several mayors of municipalities in the Serra.
Regarding the presentation of the law, Galmés stated that the regulation aims to be "fully agreed upon" with all stakeholders to address the "real management needs" posed by the Serra.
According to the insular president, the goal is to create "a law that protects heritage, promotes traditional agriculture, boosts livestock farming, preserves olive groves and oak forests, and addresses challenges such as occasional saturation or noise issues."
The draft will also include proposals from the previous consultation process, with the Consell highlighting three main demands.
Specifically, administrative simplification to facilitate conservation and development initiatives; adequate and stable financing to ensure the continuity of actions without depending on specific calls; and the recovery of heritage and former agricultural fields, essential for the viability of the cultural landscape.
The law also foresees the specific recognition of the role of the agricultural and livestock sector and the development of catalogs for the protection of heritage assets such as sources, estates, or archaeological sites.
During the event, the insular councilor of the Presidency recalled that on June 29, 2011, Unesco formally recognized "what many already knew: that the Serra de Tramuntana is a global treasure, a unique and exceptional cultural landscape."
"But long before that declaration, the Serra was already alive, it was already heritage. Thanks to all the hands that have cared for it with effort and dedication for generations," he added, emphasizing the fundamental role of the peasantry and all those who have contributed to preserving "this living legacy, which is now a source of collective pride."
The event was a recognition of "all the people who, with their daily work cultivating the land, make possible the conservation of the cultural landscape: farmers, wall builders, and families who preserve with dedication the inheritance received."
During the tribute, the audiovisual piece ‘Patrimoni amb nom i llinatges’ was premiered, showcasing some of these individuals, and a shared reading – by a 14-year-old, an adult, and a grandfather – of the criteria established by Unesco that the Serra de Tramuntana meets.
Plaques of the Serra de Tramuntana Distinctive were also awarded to companies that recently joined, recognizing their responsible production within the territory and respect for its values, totaling 22 companies.
Likewise, a musical performance by the duo formed by singer Aina Tramullas and pianist Gori Matas took place, who performed a piece created especially for the occasion.
The celebration concluded with a tasting of products with the Serra de Tramuntana Distinctive, organized by Més Cultura, Patrimony, and Tourism.
PARTICIPATION COUNCIL
Before the institutional event, the annual plenary meeting of the Participation Council was held, the top advisory body of the Serra de Tramuntana Consortium, which brings together the groups involved in its conservation.
During the meeting, the work of the last two years was presented, during which the entity’s budget was increased, allowing for more funding for the maintenance of the cultural landscape and the preservation of outreach, education, and sponsorship programs.
The boost given to the Serra de Tramuntana Distinctive was also highlighted, with new companies joining and the opening of a stand at the Mercat de l’Olivar in Palma.