Sant Miquel de Balenyà – Seva – Osona, Spain

Key Facts

Main characteristics of the region

Osona is a comarca (county) located in Catalonia, Northeast Spain. It has a population of 165.229 people and its capital is Vic. The local entity that integrates all municipalities is the County Council (Consell Comarcall d’Osona).
Osona Sud comprises the municipalities of Aiguafreda, Balenyà, Centelles, El Brull, Malla, Sant Martí de Centelles, Seva, Taradell, Tona and Viladrau. There is no formal institution integrating all municipalities, but they, together with few others, have created a supramunicipal entity (Mancomunitat La Plana) to share services such as waste management. Osona South, includes these 10 Southern municipalities of Osona.
Seva Local Council governs a Municipality that aggregates the populations of Sant Miquel de Balenyà and Seva, plus five urbanisations in an exclave located south. It has a total population of 3.736 people.
Sant Miquel de Balenyà Municipal Entity governs one the two towns in the Seva Municipality, Sant Miquel de Balenyà. The town was developed after the creation of a train station in that location in 1875. Sant Miquel de Balenyà has 1.353 inhabitants. The Local Council of Seva proposed to the Regional Government of Catalonia the creation of the of Sant Miquel de Balenyà Municipal Entity in 2014.

Geographical area
The area is alongside the C-17 road and comprises a transition area from the plain of Vic to the Montseny mountains. It has both road and railroad connection with Barcelona (around 50km). The Montseny is a protected area, UNESCO designated the massif a biosphere reserve in 1978. The Catalan government designated it a natural park in 1987, the Montseny Natural Park (Parc Natural del Montseny).

Trends
The entire Osona region is famous for the production of sausages and other pork derivatives. Factory farming of pigs and dairy cows creates employment throughout the territory, often with low-wage workers in the secondary sector. This type of industry involves a particularly resource-intensive process, requiring significant amounts of land, water, and energy to raise and process animals, producing significant air, soil, and groundwater pollution. Osona has a ratio of more than 6.2 pigs per person.

The geographical disposition of Osona, all surrounded of mountains makes it vulnerable to air pollution. The main pollutants are tropospheric ozone (O3), mostly during summer; particles in suspension (PM10); and benzopyrenes.

No trends have been estimated for Seva neither Sant Miquel de Balenyà.

Partners

Involved

Living Lab transitions

No specific analysis exists related to Osona, Seva or Sant Miquel de Balenyà. The region will take as an overall reference the Agenda of towns and cities Catalonia 2050.

Socio-economy

As part of the Agenda of towns and cities Catalonia 2050, the municipality aims to generate dynamism and economic prosperity linked to the reinforcement of traditional sectors, new productive models and new opportunities in the digital and green economy.

Strategic areas

High added value, digital and green economy
Talent and entrepreneurship
Research and technological transfer
Circular economy

However there is no data available on the region’s responses to socioeconomic transition.

Climate change & environment

In line with the Agenda, the municipality aims to promote its territorial balance, while generating competitive advantages to live, work and enjoy every corner of the territory.

Strategic areas

Livable and sustainable environments
Territorial connectivity
Energy and natural resources
Natural heritage and resilience

In terms of supporting sustainable environments, Catalan municipalities are committed to limit residues headed to landfills to the 10%. Osona leads the selective collection of waste in Catalonia (61%, 2020) and Sant Miquel de Balenyà collects 86.6% of the waste generated. All the municipalities in Osona Sud have a doorstep collection system except for El Brull.

The action plan for the air quality improvement is now undergoing.

The project Osona Eco Transition 40% is running until 2027 and targets the reduction of C0₂ emissions by 42% mainly through action lines on thermal energy, electrical energy and mobility.

The Table for a Sustainable Livestock Management has the mission to overcome the effects the massive livestock industry has on the ground and water.

Digitalisation

In line with the Agenda, the municipality aims to move towards a more equitable society and towards a new social contract that guarantees fundamental rights and leaves no one behind.

Strategic areas