Son Bosc Parc Natural -- No golf course

Son Bosc is an area annexed to the S'Albufera Natural Park in Mallorca that is of an extremely high conservational interest. It is home to the largest European population of the Robust Orchid (Orchis robusta), it has the largest gathering in the Balearic Islands of a variety of orchid species (Orchis fragans, Ophrys apifera, Serapias parviflora, etc), it has the largest European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) colony in Mallorca, and it is an important feeding area for the Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) among other values. The area became part of the S'Albufera Natural Park during 8 months in 2003 but was later unprotected once more to make possible the construction of a golf course.

The golf course has already obtained all the necessary authorizations to go ahead (although our organization has contested the building license before the court considering it illegal), and on the 22nd of February work commenced on destroying Son Bosc.

Thanks to pressure from important conservation entities (UICN-Med, WWF-España, Wetlands International and PlantaEuropa among others), on the 26 of February the Balearic Government put in motion a Natural Resources Zoning Plan that provisionally protects a part of Son Bosc, but work has already gone ahead on the remaining unprotected part.

Also, the association of hotel chains is pressuring for the whole area to be unprotected. The political parties Mallorcan Union (UM) and the Popular Party (PP) have forwarded to the Parliament proposals that could cancel the provisional protection that the most valuable part of Son Bosc has at the moment, and make possible the construction of the golf course.

The important biodiversity of Son Bosc should be protected, and accordingly we demand that the Balearic Government take urgent action to stop the construction work of the golf course and incorporate the area into the S'Albufera Natural Park.

golf Another golf course ...

Mallorca already has 24 functional golf courses and a dozen or so in process or in construction. A very influential part of Mallorca's tourist entrepreneurs are still supporting this type of tourism in spite of signs of exhaustion that are being detected.

Son Bosc is home to unique natural values that attract tourists during the low season (spring and autumn) who travel to Mallorca to observe our nature. To enjoy the area they do not need the biodiversity to be transformed or destroyed.

This way the protection of Son Bosc would entail real tourism diversification and be a step toward its environmental maintenance. Although some people still think that the destruction of nature is the best way to do business ...

Who wants to change the important biodiversity of Son Bosc for another golf course?

The developers of the golf course are made up of the hotel enterprises Grupotel S.A. (43%), Cesgarden S.L. (29.5%) and Compañía Agropecuaria de Calviá S.L. (27.5%).

[Diario de Mallorca]

Grupotel
Hotels a Mallorca: Grupotel Acapulco Playa, Grupotel Aguait & Spa, Grupotel Alcudia Suite, Grupotel Amapola, Grupotel Dunamar, Grupotel Farrutx, Grupotel Gran Vista & Spa, Grupotel Los Príncipes & Spa, Grupotel Marítimo, Grupotel Molins, Grupotel Montecarlo, Grupotel Nilo & Spa, Grupotel Orient, Grupotel P. Camp de Mar, Grupotel Parc Natural & Spa, Grupotel Picafort Beach, Grupotel Playa de Palma Suites, Grupotel Port d´Alcudia, Grupotel Taurus Park, Grupotel Valparaiso Palace & Spa.

Cesgarden
Hotels a Mallorca: Holiday Garden, Playa Garden, Alcudia Garden, Palm Garden, Beach Garden, Habitat Garden, Cala Millor Garden, Green Garden.

Compañía Agropecuaria de Calviá
Iberostar
Hotels a Mallorca: Iberostar Vell Marí, Iberostar Alcudia Park, Iberostar Royal Cristina, Iberostar Ciudad Blanca, Iberostar Royal Playa de Palma, Iberostar Albufera Park, Iberostar Pinos Park, Iberostar Playa de Muro, Iberostar Suites Hotel Jardín del Sol, Iberostar Club Cala Barca, Iberostar Albufera Playa, Iberostar Playa de Muro Village, Iberostar Royal Cupido.

In March 2008 the Muro council presided by Jaume Perelló (Mallorcan Union), grants the building license for the construction of the golf course. From June 2007 and until the 5th of February 2010, Mallorcan Union has been in control of the Enviromental and Tourism ministries and their leaders have publicly defended the construction of the golf course. On the 4th of March they presented a no law proposal before the Parliament to nullify the present partial protection that Son Bosc has.

The Popular Party ruled in the Balearics when the environmental reports that made possible the authorization of the golf course were written. Even their Environmental councillor publicly supported the construction of the golf course in front of the hoteliers. On the 15th of March they presented a law proposal before the Balearic Parliament to declare that construction of the golf course as of "autonomic interest" and by this way nullifying the partial protection that Son Bosc has.

How can you help Son Bosc?

Fill out your details in the following form which will be addressed to the President of the Government of the Balearics, and his Environment and Tourism councillors.

Finally, if you are planning to visit Mallorca, before choosing an accommodation, please keep in mind who are the promoters of the destruction of the natural heritage of Son Bosc.

Thank you for your interest.

- Mr José Ramón Bauzá, President of the Government of the Balearic Islands Mr Gabriel Company Bauzá, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Territory of the Government of the Balearic Islands Mr Carlos Delgado Truyols, Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Balearic Islands --- Dear Sirs: Given the exceptional natural values of Son Bosc, I strongly consider that the area should be included in the Natural Park of s'Albufera de Mallorca. The transformation of this area in another golf course (24 of which exist already in operation in Mallorca), in addition to adversely affect its important and unique biodiversity, would also be a serious mistake if the Balearic Islands wish to move towards a more sustainable model of tourism that respects the natural heritage. Therefore, I strongly request you that Son Bosc is included in the Natural Park of s'Albufera de Mallorca, as well as in the Ramsar Site and in the Natura 200 European Network. Yours faithfully.

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