Calvià Town Hall has proposed a protection perimeter in the Santa Ponça pine forest to reconcile the Rei en Jaume festivities with environmental regulations.
Calvià Town Hall's technicians have designed a proposal to locate the Moor and Christian camp in the Santa Ponça pine forest during the Rei en Jaume festivities. The idea is to protect the most sensitive areas of the pine forest with a high environmental protection perimeter, so that the gathered crowd does not harm the ecosystem. This measure aims to unlock the authorization from the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle of the Government, which has so far withheld approval for environmental reasons.
Prohibition of heavy furniture in the protected area
The municipal proposal includes banning the installation of heavy furniture or structures that could compact the soil in the area of intermediate value. Stages, chemical toilets, or inflatable structures must be located outside the forest area, on the promenade, the beach, or adjacent public roads. This way, the aim is to minimize the impact on the pine forest, which has hosted the camp for over 30 editions.
The Town Hall, led by Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual, is confident that this solution will satisfy both the groups and the environmental requirements. The regional department, although it has not explicitly stated an official prohibition, cites the current regulations for the protection of the natural space. The Santa Ponça pine forest is a sensitive area that requires special care during large events.
Three alternatives on the table
In addition to the protection proposal, the Culture department of the Town Hall has presented two additional alternatives. One replicates the model from previous years, while the other requests authorization to camp on the large beach of Santa Ponça. However, this last option is firmly rejected by the groups, who believe it lacks an adequate logistical plan.
The groups, which comprise around a thousand people, have warned that if the camp is not held in its usual location, they will not participate in the grand parade on Saturday of the September festivities. This parade runs through the main streets of Santa Ponça as a prelude to the battle on the beach, a central act of the Festes del rei En Jaume. The mobilization of the groups has been key for the Town Hall to seek an urgent solution.
Next steps and key dates
This Monday, 20 July, a meeting is scheduled between the Town Hall and the groups to present the situation and make a decision regarding the selection of the Kings, which will take place on 28 July. The Festes del rei En Jaume will occur from 28 August to 8 September in Santa Ponça. The residents of Calvià and visitors are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this negotiation, which will determine whether the tradition is maintained in its historical setting.
For the Mallorca reader, this news is relevant because the Rei en Jaume festivities are one of the island's most emblematic cultural events, attracting large crowds. The resolution of this conflict will mark the future of the celebration and the relationship between environmental protection and popular traditions. For now, the Town Hall hopes that dialogue will lead to an agreement that satisfies all parties.
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