The Council of Mallorca has announced an investment of €60,000 for forestry cleaning works in the Comuna of Bunyola, as part of a sanitation plan of €1.8 million funded by the Sustainable Tourism Tax.
The Council of Mallorca has launched a new forestry cleaning initiative in the Comuna of Bunyola, with a budget of €60,000 aimed at reducing the risk of fires in the Serra de Tramuntana. The works, which have already begun, are part of a broader sanitation project with a total budget of €1.8 million, fully financed by the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS).
Bunyola is the third municipality where these works are being carried out, following Alaró and Valldemossa. The plan aims to intervene in over 140 hectares across 18 locations in the Serra, with a timeline extending until the summer of 2027. The selection of areas has been made based on technical criteria, prioritising spaces with higher vegetation loads and those near roads and paths, where the risk of fire is greater.
Preventive silviculture actions
The works include preventive silviculture actions, such as the removal of dry vegetation, the reduction of forest fuel, and the cleaning of safety strips along communication routes. These measures aim to create natural firebreaks and facilitate access for firefighting services in case of an emergency. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, emphasised during an institutional visit to Bunyola that the ITS allows for the financing of projects that directly benefit the residents of the Islands, and described tourism as an “ally” for the conservation of the territory.
The President of the Council, Llorenç Galmés, has warned of the increased risk of fire due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall. “Forest sanitation is a fundamental tool to reduce this danger,” he stated, reminding that the Serra de Tramuntana is particularly vulnerable due to its topography and dense vegetation.
A plan with a 2027 horizon
The forestry sanitation project will be implemented progressively across the 18 included municipalities. So far, actions have already taken place in Alaró and Valldemossa, and now it is Bunyola's turn. Local residents have expressed their satisfaction with the initiative, as the accumulation of weeds and dry shrubs in the Comuna posed a constant threat during the summer months. The Council has assured that the works will continue in the coming months in other areas of the Serra, always following the technical criteria that set the priorities.
The use of the Sustainable Tourism Tax to finance these actions has been supported by the island government, which argues that visitors should contribute to maintaining the natural environment they enjoy. According to data from the Council, over €100 million was collected through the ITS in 2025, part of which is allocated to environmental projects like this one.
For the residents of Bunyola and neighbouring municipalities, these actions provide relief from the fear of wildfires, which have devastated thousands of hectares on the island in recent years. Cleaning the Comuna not only reduces the risk but also improves the landscape quality and facilitates movement along rural paths and roads.
The Council has reminded that prevention is key in the fight against fires, and that citizen collaboration is equally important. Residents are advised to keep their properties clean and to report any risky situations to the authorities. The works in Bunyola will continue over the coming weeks, and it is expected that the results will be visible before the start of the high-risk season, which usually begins in June.
