Changes and perspectives in agricultural land-use and their geoecological consequences for the mountain of Mallorca island

Pere A Salva Tomás

doi:10.3989/pirineos.1993.v141-142.165

Abstract

The changes in land-use, caused by the impact of mass tourism which has occurred in the Balearics since the 50s, are analyzed in the Serra de Tramuntana of the Mallorca island (Balearic Islands, Spain). The result has been a disarticulation of the traditional territorial organization based on agro-silvo-pastoral activities. New activities are now appearing, related to leisure and recreation, whilst the territorial aptitude of the Serra de Tramuntana, with regard to its geoecological characteristics is basically transformed into a large natural park.

Highlights

RESUMEN.- Se analizan los cambios de uso del suelo en la Serra de Tramuntana de la isla de Mallorca ocasionados por el impacto del turismo de masas que se desarrolla en las Baleares a partir de los años 50
The mountain area of the Mallorca island is made up basically of two geomorphological and structural units with different territorial dimensions, represented, on the one hand, by the Serra de Tramuntana or Northern mountain range; and on the other, the Serres de Llevant (Mountain ranges of Llevant)
Whilst in the majority of the cases, especially in the peninsular mountains, these changes are motived by town developments and industrialization processes, in the case of Mallorca these transformations are based on the impact of a new activity being developped in industralized countries, related to the islands attraction for the people of Western Europe, led by tour-operators and charter flights, involving a massive influx of tourists to the Balearic islands

Summary

The Mallorca mountains

The mountain area of the Mallorca island is made up basically of two geomorphological and structural units with different territorial dimensions, represented, on the one hand, by the Serra de Tramuntana or Northern mountain range; and on the other, the Serres de Llevant (Mountain ranges of Llevant). The Serra de Tramuntana has experienced important changes since the 50s and more especially since the 60s due to the impact of the mass tourism which takes place on the Mallorca island This fact has caused the breakup of the traditional production economic model which was based on agriculture, resulting in diversification and a dependence on the service sector. Whilst in the majority of the cases, especially in the peninsular mountains, these changes are motived by town developments and industrialization processes, in the case of Mallorca these transformations are based on the impact of a new activity being developped in industralized countries, related to the islands attraction for the people of Western Europe, led by tour-operators and charter flights, involving a massive influx of tourists to the Balearic islands The elements of this decline are similar in all the mountain areas: Population decrease, aging, breakup of the traditional systems and changes in land-use. To develop the mountain areas it is vital to maintain an agricultural system permitting the maintenance of the environment and the rural landscape with an interaction in the physical, biological, economic and social media

Land-use in traditional agriculture

The current situation: types and trends in agricuiturai iand-use

Current variables of the rural space of the Serra de Tramuntana

Findings

Conclusions