1st Forum for a Participatory Governance for the Illa del Aire Marine Reserve

Over 40 people take part in the constitution of the Participatory Governance Forum for the Isla del Aire Marine Reserve

Yesterday, Menorca Preservation, in collaboration with Fundación Marilles, the support of the Leader Isla de Menorca Association and the technical involvement of GOB Menorca and IME-OBSAM, organised a participative meeting in the Albert Camus Hall in Sant Lluís to formalise the creation of the Forum for Social and Participatory Governance of the Marine Reserve of the Isla del Aire (RMIA).

The meeting brought together more than 40 people from various sectors: public administrations, local businesses, environmental organisations, associations, scientists and interested citizens, with the aim of setting up a participatory and citizen forum for the Isla del Aire Marine Reserve. During the session, the most relevant problems of the area were reviewed, such as the lack of surveillance, the impact of boating (speed of boats and saturation in alternative anchoring areas…), pollution (by sewage, poor condition of the sewage system, plastics…) and the need to improve the information available about the reserve for both residents and visitors.

Participants worked in groups to identify possible solutions and concrete actions. Some of the proposals highlighted included: the installation of signage in the area to raise awareness among visitors and residents, the organisation of workshops and conferences to encourage citizen participation and the creation of decalogues of good practices for sectors. The best way to structure and organise the forum was also debated, discussing the frequency of annual meetings and deciding on the levels of involvement: basic and active.

Aina Blanco-Magadán, coordinator of the project, says: ‘This forum is an opportunity to join forces and ensure that the management of the reserve is done with the active involvement of all stakeholders. Community participation is key to the success of the project.’

© Philip North-Coombes

A new common space for the future of the Reserve

The Forum focused not only on the analysis of issues, but also on building a collaborative structure for fluid communication and joint decision-making. The participants assessed their level of availability and involvement, and working groups were created to address specific issues. Five groups have emerged: defining the logo and name, advocacy with the administration, generation of information material, coordination with people who are ambassadors of the initiative and clean-up actions.

The participatory governance process stems from the need to integrate the community in the management of the RMIA, especially after the changes in regulations that have affected the area in recent years. In 2022, two years after the declaration of the Marine Reserve, the biomass of fish doubled and the abundance of marine species increased significantly, demonstrating the effectiveness of the protection measures. However, the impact of the change in regulations on these results is not yet known. There are still challenges ahead that can only be overcome with the collaboration of all sectors involved.

Next steps

The organising entities announced that a summary of the conclusions and actions agreed during the day will be shared with all participants. In addition, it is planned to activate the thematic working groups and to organise the next session of the forum in the coming months.
The formal constitution of the forum was celebrated with a group photo and the collection of contacts to maintain open and fluid communication between all participants.