Enero, 2013. Trabajo realizado para el Proyecto Educativo Europeo "Ecotourism Training Concept" 2012 / 2014 January, 2013. Presentation made for the Leonardo da Vinci European Educational Programme : "Ecotourism Training Concept" 2012 / 2014

1. ECOTOURISM
in Spain
IES MONASTIL ELDA

2. 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.

3. 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

4. AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT STATE
DEPARTMENT (MAGRAMA)
ACTIVITY AREAS
1. Farming
2. Livestock Farming
3. Fishing
4. Food
5. Biodiversity
6. Rural Development
7. Water
8. Coastal and Marine
Environments
9. Environmental quality and
evaluation
10. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. • 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)

10. 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

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

12. TOURISTIC ADMINISTRATION IN
SPAIN

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. http://www.europarc.org

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

19. European Charter for Sustainable Tourism
http://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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. www.redeuroparc.org

26. 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

27. 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..

28. 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 Andalusia
2.- The Ebro Delta . Tarragona
3.- A Guarda, river mouth of The Miño in Galicia
4.- Trasmiera Ecoparque in Cantabria.

29. 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.

30. EDEN EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS OF
EXCELLENCE

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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

38. 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 .

39. 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.”

40. www.eupopeangeoparks.org
Maestrazgo Geopark.Spain