The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) is a management tool designed, evaluated and certified by the EUROPARC Federation. This tool aims to support tourism that reconciles and integrates environmental, cultural and social aspects with economic development in protected areas, promoting sustainable development while addressing the needs of present generations without compromising those of future generations.
Learn more about the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism | Click here
The presence of a unique bird, the Priolo or Azores Bullfinch, with nearly half of its territory embedded in São Miguel Natural Park, is the focus of conservation works that have been developed within the LIFE Sustainable Laurel Forest project and the Spatial Plan of the Furnas Lake Basin, both excellent candidates for the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism.
The Regional Secretariat of Natural Resources, former Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, applied for the ECST in January 2011, after initial contacts with local partners and entities to assess their interest in joining the project. The process took place in 2011, while the candidacy was delivered to EUROPARC in January 2012. In October 2012 the ECST was awarded to the Lands of Priolo for 5 years with the option to renew the process in 2016.
Joining the Lands of Priolo to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism entailed a participatory methodology that enables coordination in the territory through the various institutions and economic agents related to tourism and conservation of nature in favor of a common strategy for sustainable tourism development.
Learn more about the participatory process of accession | Click here
Throughout this process the following documents were produced and have become a part of the ECST application dossier, as they will serve as orientation for the 5 year period the ECST has been awarded:
Throughout the next 5 years, the Action Plan will be implemented and evaluated annually resulting in an Annual Progress Report.
* Please note that all these documents exist only in Portuguese.