Environmental organisations from Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca are calling for stronger protections for the Balearic Islands’ countryside, including a ban on new swimming pools on rural land and tighter restrictions on tourism and residential uses that are not directly connected to agriculture.

GEN-GOB Ibiza, GOB Mallorca and GOB Menorca presented their proposals to the Balearic Government’s regional minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment during a meeting on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The organisations argue that the proposed new Agricultural Law should make farming economically viable without increasing pressure on rural land or weakening environmental safeguards.

The legislation is currently going through the parliamentary process. The groups’ demands are proposals for changes to the draft, not rules that have already been adopted.

Why Environmental Groups Want New Rural Pools Banned

One of the organisations’ main demands is to prohibit the construction of new swimming pools on rural land.

They argue that pools can contribute to the gradual transformation of agricultural areas into residential environments, changing the character of the countryside and increasing demand for water in a region where resources are already under pressure.

The groups also want stronger guarantees against the spread of new buildings and recreational uses that are not essential to agricultural activity.

Their position is that rural land should primarily serve food production and the continuation of farming, rather than becoming increasingly attractive for property development, tourism or leisure facilities.

The proposal would represent a stronger restriction than simply requiring new rural homes to maintain an agricultural connection. It would seek to prevent a particular type of development that the organisations consider inconsistent with protecting agricultural land and water resources.

Concerns About Tourism and Residential Uses in the Countryside

The environmental groups warn that some provisions in the proposed Agricultural Law could make it easier to expand tourism and residential activities on rural land.

They argue that agricultural businesses struggle to compete financially with property and tourism ventures, which can generate higher returns and push up land prices. In their view, this makes it harder for farmers to acquire land, continue operating family holdings and attract younger generations into the sector.

The organisations are particularly concerned about provisions that could allow buildings and activities originally associated with agriculture to be used for other purposes.

They have called for a clearer separation between genuine agricultural activity and tourism or residential development, arguing that economic support for farmers should not become a route to expanding non-agricultural uses.

The Balearic Government has presented the proposed law as a means of improving the viability of agricultural holdings and providing farmers with additional economic opportunities. The environmental organisations do not oppose supporting the sector, but argue that the approach should prioritise productive agriculture and territorial protection.

Dispute Over Island Planning Powers

Another major concern relates to the relationship between the proposed regional law and planning rules established by island councils and municipalities.

The organisations argue that provisions requiring existing regulations and planning instruments to adapt to the new law could undermine the ability of each island and its municipalities to determine how rural land should be managed.

They are particularly concerned about situations in which the proposed law could conflict with territorial plans that have already been approved.

The groups also contend that parts of the draft could conflict with basic state environmental legislation. They have described aspects of the proposal as potentially unconstitutional, but this is their legal assessment rather than a judicial finding.

The dispute raises a broader question about how the Balearic Government can establish a regional agricultural framework while respecting the planning powers and environmental responsibilities of the island councils.

Warning Over Older Agricultural Buildings

The organisations are also seeking changes to a provision concerning certain older agricultural buildings and installations.

The draft includes an extraordinary procedure for incorporating specified agricultural constructions built before the entry into force of the Balearic Islands’ 1991 Natural Areas and Special Protection planning law into the relevant planning framework.

The environmental groups fear that the mechanism could allow some buildings without ordinary planning recognition to be regularised, potentially consolidating construction in rural areas and opening the way for future changes of use.

They are calling for strict safeguards to prevent the provision from becoming a route to legalising irregular buildings, particularly in protected natural areas and places with high environmental or landscape value.

The concern relates to the scope and potential application of the proposed provision. It does not mean that all older agricultural buildings would automatically be legalised under the draft.

More Support for Family Farms and Young Farmers

Alongside their objections, the organisations have proposed measures intended to make agriculture more sustainable economically.

They want small and medium-sized professional holdings and family farms to receive priority in access to public support. They also advocate measures to help young people enter the sector and ensure that agricultural businesses can be passed on to future generations.

The groups argue that family farming plays an important role in maintaining rural communities, preserving traditional agricultural knowledge, diversifying production and protecting the landscape.

They are concerned that the proposed law could concentrate production and financial support among a relatively small number of larger holdings, rather than helping a wider range of agricultural businesses remain viable.

Greater Support for Organic Farming and Local Food

The environmental organisations are also calling for organic agriculture to be explicitly recognised as a strategic part of the Balearic Islands’ agricultural policy.

They want practical measures to support the transition towards more sustainable farming methods, including improved protection of biodiversity, soil fertility and water quality.

Another proposal is to increase public procurement of local and organic food for schools, hospitals and other public institutions.

The groups argue that public purchasing could create a more reliable market for local producers, helping agricultural businesses remain economically viable while strengthening the regional food supply.

They have also suggested studying a basic income or transitional payment for farmers who continue agricultural production and take on environmental conservation commitments. The idea is intended to recognise the wider role of farmers in maintaining the countryside, not only their role in producing food.

Land Banks to Bring Abandoned Farms Back Into Use

The organisations broadly welcome the draft’s proposal to create land banks, but say these would need adequate funding, staff and administrative resources to work effectively.

Land banks could help make abandoned or underused agricultural land available to people who want to farm it, addressing one of the barriers facing new entrants to the sector: access to land.

The groups want priority to be given to young farmers, family holdings and ecological farming projects.

They argue that land banks should be practical instruments for restoring agricultural activity, rather than simply being established on paper without the resources needed to connect landowners and farmers.

What Happens Next With the Agricultural Law?

The proposed Agricultural Law remains under parliamentary consideration, and its provisions may be amended before final approval.

The environmental organisations have presented their proposals to the regional government, but the available information does not establish that the Government has accepted their demands or committed to incorporating them into the final text.

The coming legislative process will determine whether the proposed restrictions on rural development, support for family farms and other environmental safeguards are adopted.

For Ibiza, the debate is particularly significant because agricultural land, water resources, tourism and housing pressures are closely connected. The central question is whether the new legislation can strengthen the economic future of farming while ensuring that the countryside remains primarily a place for agricultural production and environmental conservation.