ECOTOURISM in Spain

IES MONASTIL ELDA

ECOTURISM, WHAT IS IT?• It is considered as “a responsible and compromised trip to natural spots

during which the environment is preserved and the welfare of local people is also improved, helping them to continue existing".

• It includes the five following aspects:- It is based on the appreciation and study of nature and its attractions.- It incorporates educative elements trying to connect the natural

environment to every cultural possibility that can be linked to it.- It is organized by small, local, specialised enterprises.- It contributes to the preservation of natural areas.- It reduces negative impacts promoting an active involvement which can be

socially and economically profitable for the concerned areas.

NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM

In Spain, Tourism is managed by the SPANISH INSTITUTE OF TOURISM, TURESPAÑA.

THE AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT STATE DEPARTMENT (MAGRAMA) is in charge of The management of natural & environmental resources. http://www.magrama.gob.es

AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT STATE DEPARTMENT (MAGRAMA)

ACTIVITY AREAS

1. Farming2. Livestock Farming3. Fishing4. Food5. Biodiversity6. Rural Development7. Water8. Coastal and Marine

Environments9. Environmental quality and

evaluation10. Climate Change

Two of these areas are essential for ecotourism:

• Biodiversity• Rural Development

And The National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN) is also part of this department.

BIODIVERSITY

This area gathers information about natural

heritage: mountains and forest policy,

ecosystems, flora, fauna, natural resources

and sites, genetic resources and any other

elements which could be harmful.

RED NATURA 2000 (NET NATURA 2000):

Natura 2000 is a European eco net of areas preserving biodiversity. It has special conservation areas for natural sites managed by Directiva Hábitat, and special protection areas for birds managed by Directiva Aves.

And there is also a STRATEGIC PLAN OF NATURAL HERITAGE & BIODIVERSITY, which develops ecotourism products.

BIODIVERSITY

Rural Development

This area is part of the RURAL DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMME (2010-2014) which works out

economical activities which can generate wealth and

employment in an area making the rural and urban styles

both wider and complementary, including hostelry, crafts,

traditional hunting, fake fishing, leisure activities and sports.

National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN)

• It is a public institution within the Agriculture, Food and Environment State Department which is in charge of coordinating our national parks and their spaces.

http://www.magrama.gob.es/en/organismo-autonomo-parques-nacionales-oapn/default.aspx

• There are 14 National Parks in Spain.

• National Parks are natural spaces in which the most varied ecosystems, flora, fauna and geomorphological forms are represented and their aim is to preserve them.

• They are for public use and contribute to social awareness, sustainable development, formation of professionals, students education and information exchange among other international programmes or nets.

National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN)

NET OF NATIONAL PARKS IN SPAIN National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN)

http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/index.htm

• 1. Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici.

• 2. Archipiélago de Cabrera. • 3. Cabañeros. • 4. Caldera de Taburiente.

• 5. Doñana. • 6. Islas Atlánticas de Galicia. • 7. Garajonay.• 8. Monfragüe

• 9. Ordesa y Monte Perdido. • 10. Picos de Europa. • 11. Sierra Nevada. • 12. Tablas de Daimiel. • 13. Teide. • 14. Timanfaya

Fuente: Instituto Geográfico Nacional http://parquesnacionales.cnig.es/

TOURISTIC ADMINISTRATION IN SPAIN

TURESPAÑA

Turespaña is a public institution ascribed to the Industry,

Commerce and Tourism State Department and it is devoted

to promote Spain as a tourist destination in the main outgoing

markets all over the world.

TURESPAÑA has sponsored different touristic products linked

to nature which are included in the concept of ECOTOURISM.

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

Draft framework for the development of ECOTOURISM in Spain

1.- The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas(ECST) from Europarc Federation

2.- European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN Network)

3.- The UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB)

4.- Global Geoparks (UNESCO Programme)

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

• Other environment preservation programmes in Spain which are potentially interesting for the development of

ECOTOURISM are:

1.- Ramsar Convention, Spain has 68 designated wetland spaces.

2.- Wild Birds within the framework of the European Wild Birds Board

3.-The Mediterranean Action Plan Agreement.

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

1.- The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas(ECST) from Europarc Federation.It has about 430 member organisations in 35 European countries and one in the USA. Together, they are responsible for the management of hundreds of protected areas (national parks, nature parks, Natura 2000 sites, regional parks, biosphere reserves and many more designations) across the continent and are a great pool of expertise for topics across the field of nature protection.

http://www.europarc.org

http://www.european-charter.org/home/

European Charter for Sustainable Tourismhttp://www.european-charter.org/home/

2.- The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) is a practical management tool which helps protected areas to continuously improve sustainable development and the management of tourism taking account of the needs of the environment, the local population and the local tourism businesses.

•The Charter is a voluntary agreement and aims to encourage good practice by recognising protected areas, which converge in a set of agreed upon requirements for the sustainable development and management of tourism.

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

• The Charter and the Charter Network are managed by the EUROPARC Federation, a pan-European and non-governmental umbrella organisation of more than 400

protected areas in 36 European countries.• The Charter consists of a process with a multi-stakeholder

approach for regions who wish to sustainably manage their development and tourism as one important sector. Actors from the public, private, governmental and non-governmental sectors are invited to join into discussions and forums and actively shape the future of their region, with and through tourism.

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

• Applicants to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in

Protected Areas (ECST) are accompanied by the EUROPARC

Federation and EUROPARC Consulting in their process. An

evaluation committee will finally check if the requirements of

the ECST are met and award the Charter. The Charter status

can then be used for internal and external marketing. The

status is valid for 5 years, and a re-evaluation is suggested.

The Charter Principles for Sustainable Tourism

• Principle 1: To involve all those implicated by tourism in and around the protected area in its development and management.

• Principle 2: To prepare and implement a sustainable tourism strategy and action plan for the protected area.

• Principle 3: To protect and enhance the area’s natural and cultural heritage, for and through tourism, and to protect it from excessive tourism development.

• Principle 4: To provide all visitors with a high quality experience in all aspects of their visit.

• Principle 5: To communicate effectively to visitors about the special qualities of the area.

• Principle 6: To encourage specific tourism products which enable discovery and understanding of the area.

The Charter Principles for Sustainable Tourism

• Principle 7: To increase knowledge of the protected area and sustainability issues amongst all those involved in tourism.

• Principle 8: To ensure that tourism supports and does not reduce the quality of life of local residents.

• Principle 9: To increase benefits from tourism to the local economy.• Principle 10: To monitor and influence visitor flows to reduce negative

impacts.

http://www.european-charter.org/become-a-charter-area/charter-principles

Areas and member firms of ECST:

There are 20 protected areas and a classification of firms dedicated to activities in nature, accomodation, catering and active tourism.

From a very long list we can highlight:www.redeuroparc.org/empresascets.jsp

guiaecoturismo.pdf

www.redeuroparc.org

Ecosystems mosaic. The biodiversity within Doñana’s National Park is the result of the combination of different ecosystems. It was declared as part of the Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1980. Example ECST

La Gomera island and its ancient nature

This National Park has been recognised as one of the jewels of the world’s heritage by the UNESCO. By contrast with the rest of the Canary Islands, its landscape is not of volcanic origin. It is however an always darkened laurissilva forest..

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

2.-3.- European Destinations of Excellence

(EDEN Network) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWrHytKixLQ

1.- Sierra de las Nieves Mountain Range in Andalusia2.- The Ebro Delta . Tarragona 3.- A Guarda, river mouth of The Miño in Galicia4.- Trasmiera Ecoparque in Cantabria.

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

Spain’s natural spaces have the utmost respect for the environment. EDEN network - European Destinations of Excellence – is recognised by the European Commission.

It is an international project that aims to foster sustainable tourism management and shows Europe's diversity: natural resources, historic heritage, traditional celebrations, local gastronomy... To this end, every year a series of destinations are carefully selected by means of national competitions. The destinations are selected because of their interesting tourist attractions that care for the environment and that mainly promote rural and/or protected areas and countryside activities.

EDEN EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS OF EXCELLENCE

The Sierra de las Nieves Mountain Range in Andalusia is a Natural Park designated as a Biosphere Reserve by The UNESCO. It is a veritable green paradise, just at stone's throw from the Costa del Sol, and includes eco-tourism, green tourism, cultural tourism, agro-tourism, adventure tourism, bird watching, ethno-tourism and health tourism.

This nature space located in Tarragona covers an area of 320 square kilometres, of which 80 comprise The Ebro Delta nature reserve. It has a great ornithological richness and is internationally important due to the presence of over 400 species and some of the most important breeding colonies in the Mediterranean.These flat lands are a unique landscape.

It has been designated a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) by the European Commission in recognition for its proposal for sustainable tourism. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and presided by the Miño river and the Monte de Santa Tecla hill fort, the town of A Guarda is famous for its lobsters.This landscape features elements of the sea, the river and the mountains, and is home to one of the most typical fishing villages in Galicia, on the border with Portugal

Turismo de Galicia: www.turgalicia.es

This image is part of the Marismas de Santoña, victoria and Joyel Natural Park.It is a landscape mainly of marsh in which tides and thousands of migratory birds are the main ingredients. There are two bird-watching areas and a lookour point for visitors as well as educational paths and interpretation centres which provide an insight into the industrial heritage and the natural landscape.http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/eden/themes-destinations/countries/spain/trasmiera-ecopark/index_en.htm

Turismo de Santoña: http://www.turismosantona.com/marismas.php

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

4.- UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB) develops the basis within the natural and social sciences for the rational and sustainable use and conservation of the biosphere resources and for the improvement of the overall relationship between people and their environment.

RESOURCES

There are 39 biosphere reserves in Spanish territory. Examples: The Picos de Europa, the Valle de Laciana, Monfragüe, Muniellos and the Leza, Jubera, Cidacos and Alhama river valleys which are just a few of the places in Spain which have been declared Biosphere Reserves by the UNESCO. A visit to discover these five natural treasures –unique in Europe– is highly recommended.

Sierra Nevada: the highest mountains in the Iberian Peninsula. This park combines beauty and ecological importance without forgetting its high peaks. It was declared a biosphere reserve in 1986.

http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/sierra/historia.htm

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

5.- Global Geoparks (UNESCO Programme):Geoparks are becoming very popular due to

their combination of conservation, sustainable development and community involvement. The UNESCO started to be active in this area in 1999 when Geoparks were proposed as a UNESCO programme .

ECOTOURISTIC PROJECTS IN SPAIN

Geoparks hold records of past climate change.

They educate visitors on current climate

change as well as on adoption of the best use

of renewable energy and the achievement of

the best standards of “green tourism.”

www.eupopeangeoparks.org

Maestrazgo Geopark.Spain