Palma, February 18, 2026. The Consell of Mallorca has unveiled the draft proposal for the future Serra de Tramuntana law, a regulatory framework aimed at strengthening the protection of Mallorca’s UNESCO-listed cultural landscape while securing its long-term economic and social sustainability.
The presentation, held at the Galatzó refuge, officially opens the public consultation phase. Stakeholders, institutions and citizens will be able to submit comments and proposals until April 15, as part of a broader dialogue process with municipalities and sectors closely linked to the territory.
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A comprehensive legal framework for the Serra
Structured into 8 titles, 13 chapters and 62 articles, the draft law seeks to provide the Serra de Tramuntana with a coherent legal framework to improve protection, management and conservation. According to the Consell, the proposal is built on cooperation, administrative simplification and sustainable development, and is the result of dialogue with local councils, landowners and economic sectors.
Mayors from Serra municipalities, representatives of the Serra de Tramuntana Consortium, primary sector organisations and local entities attended the presentation.
Expanded protection and new conservation tools
One of the key innovations is the extension of the protected area to include estates, settlements and zones historically linked to the Serra that were not part of the original UNESCO boundaries.
The law also introduces a heritage impact assessment for any activity that may affect the defining values of the cultural landscape. In parallel, the Consortium will develop indicators to monitor visitor impact and determine the area’s carrying capacity, aiming to prevent negative effects from overcrowding.
Administrative simplification and support for agriculture
To ensure protection does not hinder day-to-day land management, the proposal strengthens the Serra de Tramuntana Consortium as the single management authority, improving coordination between administrations. It also simplifies procedures for agricultural activities such as rebuilding dry-stone walls or recovering abandoned farmland.
The primary sector is placed at the centre of landscape conservation, with measures to restore unused fields, promote extensive livestock farming as a wildfire prevention tool, and formally recognise hunting as part of territorial management.
Heritage, sustainability and regulated public access
The draft law recognises traditional estates as key elements of the cultural landscape and allows compatible complementary activities to ensure their economic viability and prevent abandonment.
It reinforces heritage protection through dedicated inventories and catalogues, safeguards singular elements such as monumental olive and holm oak trees, and mandates the use of traditional dry-stone techniques in conservation works. Environmental measures also address light and noise pollution and promote emission-offset projects through direct investment in the Serra.
Public access is regulated to balance enjoyment with respect for private property. Temporary restrictions may be applied during periods of overcrowding, a Serra de Tramuntana Volunteer Corps is created, and recreational quad use on unpaved roads is prohibited.
Stable funding and enforcement
The proposal establishes a stable funding system involving the Balearic Islands Government, the Consell of Mallorca and local councils, with priority access to Sustainable Tourism Tax funds. A graduated sanctions regime is also included, with fines of up to €1 million for the most serious offences, such as forest fires, severe heritage damage or unauthorised alterations to protected elements.
With the public consultation now underway, the Consell of Mallorca will continue meeting with municipalities and stakeholders to gather contributions and work towards broad consensus ahead of the law’s final approval.