Ministry to seek extra funding for natural parks

The Balearic ministry of the environment will be seeking a budget of 1'300 million pesetas for next year to manage the natural parks of the islands, in view of the fact that, with four new parks due to be incorporated, the protected area will be multiplied tenfold. Minister Margalida Rosselló said that this sum, which is an increase of 253 per cent over this year's budget, was “only an estimate.” She was speaking at a press conference after a meeting to evaluate the objections to plans for a natural park in the Artà area. She justified the need for extra funding by explaining that the four new areas in the Balearic network of natural parks - Llevant (Artà) and S'Albufereta in Majorca and Cala d'Hort and Ses Salines in Ibiza and Formentera - mean that the protected area will be increased by 38'831 hectares, in addition to the existing 4'558 hectares. According to Rosselló, the Llevant park, which covers an area of 19'039 hectares, will receive the biggest amount, 460 million pesetas.