17 Territórios, 17 Metas de Desenvolvimento Sustentável

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Agenda 2030 and the International Year of Sustainable Tourism, written by Ambassador Ana Martinho, president of the UNESCO National Commission

Biosphere Reserves: • Paul do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve • Corvo Island Biosphere Reserve • Graciosa Island Biosphere Reserve • Flores Island Biosphere Reserve • Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve • Berlengas/Peniche Biosphere Reserve • Santana/Madeira Biosphere Reserve • Iberian Meseta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve • Fajãs of S. Jorge Biosphere Reserve • Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve

6 17 UNESCO territories, 17 sustainable development goals, article by Elizabeth Silva, responsible for the science sector of the UNESCO National Commission

8 Interview with Luís Araújo, president of Turismo de Portugal, on the sustainability of tourism in the country

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All rights reserved. Prohibits the reproduction, even partial, of text, photographs or illustrations in any means and for any purpose, including commercial. The advertisements and opinion articles, its contents and the impact of them are the sole responsibility of their authors.

UNESCO World Geoparks in Portugal: • Naturtejo Geopark of the Southern Meseta UNESCO World Geopark • Arouca UNESCO World Geopark • Azores UNESCO World Geopark • Terras de Cavaleiros UNESCO World Geopark

48 Natural and Cultural World Heritage: • Cultural Landscape of Sintra • Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde • Alto Douro Vinhateiro • Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

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Agenda 2030 and the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Ambassador Ana Martinho, president of the UNESCO National Commission, explains the importance of the 17 Sustainable Development Objectives defined in January 2016 and how the 17 UNESCO territories in Portugal intend to work in a network based on the promotion of the local economy, the stimulation of job creation and the sustainable use of resources, especially tourism.

In January 2016, the United Nations (UN) Resolution “Transforming Our World: 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda”, consisting of 17 objectives (SDG) and 169 goals. These 17 SDG aim to meet the needs of people in both developed and developing countries. This is a global challenge for a plan of action for people, for the planet and for prosperity, with the ever-present aim of strengthening universal peace and the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty. All of these SDG, interconnected with each other, seek through partnerships a more sustainable and fair path, with human rights as their guiding principle. They are thus integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.

UNESCO is aligning itself with this aim by encouraging networking between its different Programs and Sectors: it mobilizes support from the “family”, which includes World Heritage, Cultural Intangible Heritage, Biosphere Reserves, World Geoparks of UNESCO, UNESCO Chairs, Associated Schools, UNESCO Clubs and Centers, Creative Cities and Learning Cities. Through these UNESCO networks it is possible to carry out a true partnership work that is expected to contribute effectively and efficiently to the achievement of the SDGs and their respective goals for the next 15 years in areas of crucial importance to humanity and to the planet.

It is within this framework, and against the backdrop of the objectives of the International Year for Sustainable Tourism celebrated in 2017, that it is relevant to highlight the work carried out by 17 UNESCO territories within the framework of the 17 SDG. They are the instruments of an inclusive, sustainable and intelligent growth, having as strategic pillars the promotion

and innovation in the local economy, the stimulation of job creation and sustainability and the sustainable use of resources, with particular emphasis on tourism.

We support the promotion of sustainable tourism, contributing to a better understanding between peoples. We propose a greater awareness of the heritage of the various civilizations and the territories where they belong. We believe in the creation of new partnerships and greater international solidarity as contemplated in Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Ambassador Ana Martinho President of the UNESCO National Commission

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17 UNESCO territories, 17 sustainable development goals Under the motto 17 territories - 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the aim is to make known the work and activities carried out in UNESCO sites and territories which, despite diverse heritage, have common values: sustained regional development, contribute to styles and respect and conserve natural and cultural heritage.

In 1987 the Brundtland Report “Our Common Future” introduced a concept of sustainable development into the political agenda. However, it was at the turn of the century that the United Nations focused on this concept and on the need to make a collective commitment to the Millennium Declaration and the formulation of its Eight Millennium Development Goals. The need to establish partnerships between developed and developing countries was emphasized so as to achieve equitable and fair development for all, but above all to implement measures that would contribute to the elimination of poverty Seeking to strengthen this global design, the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) was later proclaimed, highlighting Education as the engine for this change. This Decade had in its essence a simple idea but with complex implications. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a result of its mandate, would thus be responsible for promoting this Decade, through its networks and, above all, through its National Commissions. In this context, the 195 Member States would have 10 years to go through Education and in a transversal way involving all the other sectors, dedicating each year to a different theme, to contribute to the reflection on values and attitudes capable of generating new behaviors that could

give social, environmental, economic and even cultural challenges.

With the approval of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in 2015, the focus on the human being was to refocus the search for sustainable development, based on its way of being on the planet, where prosperity can be possible for all and peace a value Based on strong partnerships, from the local to the global level. Thus, according to the UN, this Agenda reflects a new vision of prosperity, peace and the way we view our life on this Planet, so that each society can create and share knowledge, cultivate sources of innovation and creativity and draw a path more inclusive, sustainable and fair for the future.

Once again, UNESCO was called to this challenge on a global scale, in accor-

dance with its competencies defined in November 1945, but which remain absolutely current: to create conditions for dialogue between civilizations, cultures and peoples, based on respect for common shared values ​​and oriented towards sustainable development, promoting a culture of peace and respect for human rights, as well as the eradication of poverty. With specific concerns to achieve education for all, promote a science at the service of society and scientific research and sharing of knowledge based on ethical principles, supporting the expression of cultural identities and protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the world, based on a free flow of information and communication, one can see why this Organization will collaborate in the promotion of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and its 169 ambitious goals There are many UNESCO networks that will certainly contribute to the implementation of the aforementioned 17 SDG, but it is underlined here the differentiating role that the Sites classified as World Natural and Cultural Pa-

trimony, Biosphere Reserves and Portuguese World Geoparks of Portuguese UNESCO will have in promoting these objectives in favor of a sustainable territorial development.

Thus, these three different UNESCO designations that derive from distinct Conventions or Programs, such as the 1972 Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted

by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site; The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program created in 1971 to protect the Biosphere Reserves; and more recently the International Geosciences and Geoparks Program (IGGP), established in 2015, which protects the UNESCO World Geoparks, have as their common denominator the protection, preservation and transmission to future generations of the need to safeguard these unique and exceptional territories. However, all of these territories promote initiatives that contribute to sustainable development, where education, science and culture and the involvement of local communities enable joint work to respond to the 17 SDG Agenda 2030. The management work carried out daily in these territories seeks to sensitize the population to their potential, to improve relations between communities and the environment, with a view to promoting the local economy, tourism, the establishment of people and the creation of better living conditions for its inhabitants.

In the year in which the International Year for Sustainable Tourism is celebrated, it is hoped that this celebration will give greater visibility to the work done in these territories and arouses the curiosity to visit them to know them in a deeper way, exploring landscapes, aromas, colors, flavors, affections, memories and

respect for the visited places and their populations, contributing for the protection of the natural and cultural patrimony that these contain and whose disappearance would be an irreparable loss for all the peoples of the world.

Some of these 17 Portuguese territories cross different UNESCO designations.

There are World Heritage Sites that are part of UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves or World Geoparks and vice-versa, which allows maximizing synergies between the actors involved in order to achieve an integrated, coherent and sustained safeguard. The aim is to rationalize and strengthen the available resources, giving expression to the latest SDG 17 - “Partnerships for the implementation of the Goals”. It is within this framework

that will be highlighted in this edition of the magazine I Like This diverse territories where you can find projects, activities and examples of good practices that are intended to be inspiring for other territories and which constitute an effective contribution to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

Elizabeth Silva Responsible for the Sciences sector of the CNU; Coordinator of the Portuguese Forum of UNESCO World Geoparks; Member of the National Committee for the UNESCO MAB Program; Expert for the UNESCO International Geosciences and Geoparks Program

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“SUSTAINABILITY IN TOURISM IS A FUTURE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE” In the last decade, tourism has established itself as one of the main economic sectors in Portugal, with tourist revenues already representing 16.7 percent of the country’s global exports. Guaranteeing and promoting the economic, social and environmental sustainability of tourism is one of the priority development areas of Turismo de Portugal, explains Luís Araújo, president of the institution.

How do you evaluate sustainable tourism in Portugal in recent years?

Tourism has become one of the main economic sectors in Portugal. The evolution of the number of guests in hotel establishments went from 11.5 million in 2005 to almost double in 2016 (19.1 million). The overnight stays increased from 35.5 million to 53.5 million and tourism revenues from 6.2 billion euros to 12.7 billion in 2016. These figures demonstrate the role of tourism as an engine of economic development and generation of wealth, but also as a vehicle for environmental preservation, promotion and cultural valuation.

In Portugal, tourism has evolved in this direction, with sustainability as the basis of public policies for tourism development, both at national and local levels. Today, sustainability in tourism (economic, social and environmental) is a priority area of development, ​​ a basic element of public tourism policies and is a strategic objective in future terms.

Based on these assumptions, Portugal joined the World Tourism Organization in celebrating the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017, highlighting the commitment that public and private agents take every day to make Portugal a more sustainable tourist destination.

How can Portugal be a reference destination when it comes to sustainability?

The Government recently presented the Tourism Strategy 2027, the ben-

chmark for the development of public policies and business strategies in the tourism sector. The vision we define in this context is to affirm tourism as a hub for economic, social and environmental development throughout the territory, positioning Portugal as one of the most competitive and sustainable tourist destinations in the world. Portugal, as a quality tourist destination, bases its competitive advantage on the principles of sustainability, diversified supply and the appreciation of its distinctive and innovative characteristics, putting people at the center of the strategy. We have

been ambitious in this area, setting concrete targets in each of the three sustainability pillars. In economic terms, we plan to reach 80 million overnight stays in 2027, while at the same time we intend to increase in value and double tourist revenues over the same period.

On the social side, we consider seasonality as the biggest enemy of employment and, in this context, the objectives are to extend the tourist activity throughout the year, reducing the seasonality index from 37.5 percent to 33.5 percent. Also in social matters, we intend to double the level of secondary and postsecondary education in tourism and ensure that 90 per cent of the population residing in areas with the highest tourist density consider the impact of tourism on their territory to be positive. Lastly, in environmental terms, the objectives are to ensure that 9 out of every 10 companies in the country adopt measures

for the efficient management of energy, water and waste. The implementation of the action plan to achieve these goals will be accompanied by a concerted effort in terms of monitoring the sustainability of the destinations, allowing the evaluation of policies. We regularly conduct surveys on this subject in the field of good environmental practices and social responsibility in hotels and the environmental performance of golf courses. We will launch a battery of destination sustainability indicators by the end of May and publish the Sustainability Report on Tourism in Portugal. On the other hand, the preparatory work for the establishment of a sustainability observatory in the Alentejo region, in partnership with the regional tourism entity, is being developed, which is intended to be part of the UNWTO Network of Observatories (INSTO), positioning Portugal as a leading destination in sustainability matters. We launched in 2016 the Tourism All for All initiative focused on Accessible Tourism, placing Portugal at the forefront of developing one of the priority areas for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development.

How important is the increase in sustainable tourism in our country in economic terms?

As I mentioned earlier, tourism is one of the economic sectors that contributes most effectively to the economic development and diversification of wealth-generating activities. The results of tourism in 2016 have reinforced its importance for the Portuguese economy.

The revenues generated by international tourists reached 12.7 billion euros in 2016, 10.7 percent more than in 2015.

In economic terms tourism revenues accounted for around 6.9 percent in 2016 of GDP. Tourist revenues accounted for

48.2 percent of services exports and 16.7 percent of global exports, reinforcing tourism as the country’s main export activity. In terms of employment, only the housing and catering sector accounts for about six per cent of the economy’s total employment.

What are the strategies of Turismo de Portugal to promote sustainable tourism destinations?

The sustainability of our tourism development model is a fundamental asset of our promotional strategy. I would like to give two paradigmatic examples in this field. The first is the Portuguese Trails project, a brand created by Turismo de Portugal to communicate internationally the activities of Nature Tourism,

which had an initial focus on Cycling & Walking in the Algarve region, but which we will extend to the other regions. The heritage represents another of the fundamental assets of our offer. We have a very broad agenda in this field, which has involved since the development of the World Heritage Tourist Routes in Portugal to the Revive Program, a pioneering program that seeks to promote and streamline the processes of profitability and preservation of public assets that are devoluted, making it fit In order to promote economic activity with a tourist purpose, generate wealth and jobs, promote the attractiveness of regional destinations, deconcentration of demand and the development of various regions of the country.

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UNESCO World Geoparks in Portugal

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Naturtejo Geopark of the Southern Meseta UNESCO World Geopark It is a territory that is at the forefront of sustainable development. Privileged destination for the practice of Nature Tourism, Naturtejo Geopark of the Southern Meseta UNESCO World Geopark crosses a unique geological heritage with unforgettable experiences and experiences. Let yourself be captivated by this territory and unveil all its beauty.

The Geopark Naturtejo, a UNESCO World Geopark, is a vast territory between Raia, Pinhal Interior and Alentejo, which includes the municipalities of Castelo Branco, Idanha-a-Nova, Nisa, Oleiros, Penamacor, Proença-a-Nova and Vila Velha de Ródão.

A region of landscapes of the oldest that exist in Portugal, with a unique wealth in geodiversity.

Pioneer and innovator, Geopark Naturtejo was the first Portuguese geopark and is part of the UNESCO World Geoparks Network, an international seal that promotes the balance between man and nature.

It is a territory of conservation, education, tourism and innovation that meets the objectives of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, which is part of a management committed to sustainable development.

With more than 10 years of activity, Geopark Naturtejo has become renowned for the defense and promotion of environmental values and ​​ for stimulating the inclusive and sustainable economic growth of its territory, supported by the creation of local wealth and employment.

The contribution has been particularly notable for the tourist maturation of an entire region, its national and international assertion. The focus on Nature Tourism and the certification and qualification of accommodation, catering, animation and traditional products are evidences of working closely with the local communities.

In numbers, the balance of a decade of Geopark Naturtejo is sustained, for example, in the growth of 228 percent of hotels, throughout its territory.

One of the positive factors of this success is the fact that Geopark Naturtejo presents a wide range of programs for the discovery of all its riches and have a

team always available to help the visitor to prepare their vacations according to their interests and expectations.

The proposals range from more experiential activities - active tourism, walking, cycling, climbing and canoeing, the Great Muradal-Pangea Route on the Appalachian International Trail, linking this territory to the USA for the more daring - visits accompanied by local guides That explain the ecological importance of geodiversity in the same way that they introduce the local history and the present memories or experiences.

You can also mention the numerous fes-

tivals and thematic fairs, the geoproducts certified by Naturtejo Geopark, the Boom Festival, the Out of Place and the Save the Earth, international events that always have an ecological concern and individual and collective well-being.

The suggestions are endless. Let yourself be seduced by the region’s Historic Villages or Xisto Villages, admire the fossil remains of Penha Garcia, or enjoy bucolic nature walks in the Natural Monument of the Portas de Ródão of Serra da Gardunha and in the Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional. Or simply to enjoy a picnic lunch, a romantic moment, or the peace of a shade on the banks of a wild river or a reservoir of smooth water.

The 5000 square kilometer dimension gives the Naturtejo Geopark a high quality, diversified destination with numerous attraction factors. In order to satisfy the needs and requirements of all types of visitors, an increasingly innovative offer is promoted, even for the responsibilities that this Geopark plays in the official representation of the UNESCO World Geoparks Network at some of the main tourism fairs such as FITUR in Madrid and ITB in Berlin.

Naturtejo Geopark, on the other hand, has a unique connection to the local community. He realized early on that the great value of the project lies in the involvement of local populations in the development, preservation and enhancement of the heritage that characterizes it. It was like this from the beginning and it only makes sense. The sustainable development of the territory is the goal that is always present.

Naturtejo Geopark

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Arouca UNESCO World Geopark

The action of Arouca Geopark focuses, essentially, on three vectors: geoconservation, geoeducation and geotourism. In the case of geoconservation, the concerns of the Arouca Geopark go through the inventory, classification, conservation, valorization and dissemination of its geosites (sites of geological interest).

In the case of geoeducation, educational programs are particularly relevant, opening the doors of a real “open laboratory” to interpreted visits for students and teachers, or groups that require it.

In the context of geotourism, Arouca Geopark gave relevant contributions to

As we can see, this strategy of sustainable development relies heavily on endogenous resources. If, on the one hand, we can only preserve what we know, this management between preservation/knowledge and dissemination/use is important. Arouca Geopark has been possible and profitable this balance, with growing economic dynamics, based on nature tourism. It has, therefore, been possible to combine the economic, social and environmental aspects, with people,

It is, therefore, difficult to choose a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) without linking it with several others. If Arouca Geopark’s vocation is to launch partnerships to implement sustainable development (SDG 17), it is also to protect, recover and promote the sustainable use of resources (SDG 15). As well as ensuring sustainable production and consumption priests (SDG 12) and implementing measures to combat climate change (SDG 13). The same is true of concern for sustainable communities (SDG 11) and inclusive education, of which Educational Programs and pedagogical action are good examples (SDG 4). In one way or another, the geopark

But, to better understand all this, nothing like seeing with your own eyes. Climb up Serra da Freita, fill your lungs with fresh air in the viewpoints of São Pedro Velho or Detrelo da Malhada. Cross with the calm cows of the Arouquesa Breed that feed on the natural pasture by these stops. Fill your gaze with the magnificence of Frecha da Mizarela, one of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls in Europe. And to know the phenomenon of the Parideiras Rocks, in its Interpretation Center, seeing how this curious geological occurrence intersects with the origins of the Planet. Descending to the village there is, of course, to stop at the Monastery of Arouca, and realize how the history of our country also had golden pages here. And, going up again, you have to go through the Canelas Geological Interpretation Center and see some of the largest fossil of trilobite fossils in the world. From here, the trail continues towards the Paiva River, with its white water inviting you to descend in “rafting” or “kayak”. Or, for those who want a less radical adventure, to follow the running of the waters along the famous Footbridges of Paiva (awarded in the World Travel Awards of 2016 as Innovative Tourism Project in Europe and nominated in two categories for this year’s edition).

During the walk, you will see that it is worth doing it looking at the features with this sustainable look. Which is more and more that of each of us.

Arouca Geopark

© João Martins

its definition. It is in the “Declaration of Arouca”, an exit from the International Congress of Geotourism that has been held here, that this concept is defined as that of tourism that sustains and fosters the identity of a territory, not only from geology, but from the environment, from culture, aesthetic values, heritage and well-being of residents.

strategy ends up touching on all the objectives of this document, which is truly structuring with respect to sustainable development.

© Gabriel Soeiro Mendes2

If we look closely at the landscape that surrounds us, be it more natural or more urban, we find, without great difficulty, that it is on the geology of the planet that everything rests. In the case of the natural landscape, in the case of the Arouca Geopark, the geological richness is undoubtedly decisive for us to find, at every step, an order, a beauty, a strong testimony of the history of life on Earth.

From the mountains that seem to touch the sky, to the rivers of crystalline waters, from the traditional villages, to the now wisely inhabited valleys, it is from the territory, from what it has over its 328 square kilometers, that Man has been building material and immaterial) on it, which is built the Arouca Geopark. Apart from the rock on which man has built life, there are also the roots that traditions, folklore, ethnography and gastronomy feed and keep alive.

for the planet, for prosperity and in partnership(s). Moreover, this last aspect has been fundamental for everything to be integrated, so that the territory gains the coherence that we recognize. In the geopark it is fundamental that all Aroquenses feel this heritage as their own and this dynamic as beneficial for themselves, opening the doors to those who visit us. Each Arouquense is an integral part of the Arouca Geopark, a face, a guide, an interpreter.

© Avelino Vieira

It is interesting to see how the concept of Geopark and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development have so much in common.

Because of their holistic character, geoparks have the mission of uniting virtually all of these objectives into one: sustainable development. With resilience, a spirit of collaboration and a sense of the future.

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Azores UNESCO World Geopark Geopark Azores was the first truly archipelagic geopark, where the nine islands that integrate it are populated and have infrastructure and services that guarantee the development of geopark activities. It is based in a network of 121 geosites scattered throughout the islands and surrounding marine area, which guarantee the representativeness of Azorean geodiversity and translate its geological and eruptive history, with conservation and promotion strategies.

The archipelago of the Azores consists of nine islands and some islets. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, together with the archipelagos of Madeira, the Canaries and Cape Verde, Macaronesia, designation means “lucky islands.” The archipelago presents a rich and extensive geodiversity and an important geological heritage, which portray elements closely linked to the dynamics of planet Earth and, in particular, to the volcanism and geotectonics of this region of the Globe, constituting a natural laboratory of volcanic geodiversity.

Based on the geodiversity, its geological heritage and the importance of its landscapes, the Azores Geopark was created in 2010 and was recognized as a European Geopark on 21 March 2013 and as a UNESCO World Geopark in November 2015. It was the first truly archipelagic geopark, where the nine islands that integrate it are populated and have infrastructures and services that guarantee the development of geopark activities.

The Azores Geopark is based on a network of 121 geosites identified and dispersed throughout the nine islands and surrounding marine area, which guarantee the representativeness of Azorean geodiversity and translate its geological and eruptive history, with common conservation and promotion strategies. The geopark combines a strategy of geoconservation to environmental education and awareness policies and the promo-

tion of sustainable socio-economic development based on geotourism, through a network that unites the entire geopark team and partners dispersed across the nine islands. Along with the geological heritage there are other reference values ​​in the archipelago, such as a rich biodiversity and architectural, cultural, ethnographic and intangible heritage of undeniable value.

Since the settlement of the archipelago in the 15th century, the natural and landscape richness of the Azores is an important source of interest. Since the last decades of the twentieth century there has been an increase in the concerns of safeguarding and valuing the Azorean geological heritage, with a reflection on the legislation, the implementation of geoconservation measures and, in recent years, the implementation of the Azores

Geopark. In this context, the monitoring of the environmental conditions and visitation of the geoparks of the Azores is carried out monthly, in collaboration with the Nature Watchers of the Azores, and monitoring of coastal zones and marine geosites is underway.

Since the end of the 1990s several environmental education and awareness activities have been developed in the Azores, mainly associated with the Ecotecas and Ecoescolas and, more recently, the Azores Geopark. The Geopark’s educational programs focus on geodiversity, geological heritage, geoconservation and other issues related to geosciences, society, environment and sustainability, aiming to be vehicles to promote the study of Earth Sciences and the Environment and stimulate the critical and scientific spirit of the student population.

Content and activities tailored to school curricula and to different levels of teaching and follow-up of study visits are available.

Geotourism has been practiced in the archipelago since its settlement, but only in the last has been developed and promoted in a structured way. This tourist route

constitutes an important instrument of valorization of a geopark, as a promoter of the local or regional economy, through a sustainable tourism based on the geology and the valorization of the geopajeses. In this context, the integration of existing services and infrastructures, with new services and interpretive products, allows the implementation of quality geotourism in the region, in close connection with other aspects of Nature Tourism. The Azores Geopark has contributed through its partnerships, training to tourism professionals and promoting the creation of geoproducts.

From an early age the Azoreans learned to live daily with volcanoes and earthquakes, taking advantage of the fertile soils, geological resources and beautiful landscapes to promote their socio-economic development. The relation Man/ geodiversity is evident in daily activities, such as cooking in the heat of volcanoes or bathing in thermal waters, also conditioning regional architecture (popular, religious and military), culture (art, gastronomy and toponymy), ethnography (customs and traditions) and intangible heritage (stories and legends), in addition to the great influence it has on the islands’ biodiversity.

Knowing volcanoes, lagoons, tea plantations, watching cetaceans, diving in the blue ocean, walking on the islands and taste the stew of Furnas, regional sweets and regional wines, are some of the many suggestions to enjoy in the archipelago.

Come and get to know the volcanoes of the Azores and enjoy an eruption of Flavors, Aromas and Experiences!

Azores Geopark

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Terras de Cavaleiros UNESCO World Geopark The Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark, corresponding to the entire administrative area of the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, is a territory of exceptional natural, historical, cultural and human values, integral to the European and Global Networks of Geoparks since 2014, and the “Geosciences and Geoparks Program� since 2015.

A trip to the interior of the earth; rare and spectacular species of fauna and flora; beautiful scenery; notable historical monuments; incommensurable gastronomic riches; secular traditions and people with many stories to tell ... Welcome to Terras de Cavaleiros, UNESCO World Geopark.

A territory that welcomes visitors. 700 million square kilometers of area, with multiple and unique geological phenomena that date back 500 million years, marked by rurality, activities and festivities, essentially associated with the agricultural and religious calendar, with many groups keeping alive the traditions and culture of people, the identity of the Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark.

We let you know three of these groups: The Caretos de Podence. More and more are those who know them. A tradition of origins that are lost in time, maintains an appreciable vitality, responsible for one of the most interesting events in the territory: The Most Genuine Carnival of Portugal.

The Carnival Festival of the Caretos de Podence is now Intangible Cultural Heritage of Portugal, in the process of applying for UNESCO recognition. Men in robes made of plaid and colorful fringes and waist rattles, which from the earliest times have taken to the streets in the Carnival season, and keep the ritual of rattling young and single girls.

The tradition of the Caretos de Podence, associated with a pagan ritual that cros-

ses generations, is, of course, a cultural ambassador of the territory.

The Pauliteiros de Salselas - a group

that, like the previous one, is only made up of men - preserves an extraordinary cultural tradition and manifestation.

Men, whose characteristic costumes are made up of shorts, skirts, vests, hats with roses and ribbons, wool socks and leather boots typical of the territory, dance accompanied by sticks, with which they make a series of different coordinated steps and movements.

These dances of the sticks represent historical moments, agricultural arts and

crafts that are part of the identity of the people that inhabit the territory. The origin of this dance is not known with precision, however some people maintain that it is a warrior dance that comes from the Greco-Romans and that the men were adapting and transforming in its own way.

The Cultural and Recreational Group of the House of the People of Macedo de Cavaleiros is responsible for the preservation and interpretation of the traditional dances and songs of the Geopark, in a repertoire based on a careful work of collection throughout the county. A group that has approximately 40 years of existence, whose costumes are essentially suits of work, pilgrimage or domingueiros or even of rich farmers. The dances they exhibit are part of the traditional repertoire of wheel games and other dances associated with agricultural work.

Preserving and promoting all the natural, historical, traditional and human heritage and consequent local development, integrated and sustainable, are some of the principles on which the objectives of Geopark Terras de Cavaleiros are based, as part of the UNESCO Geospatial and Geopark Program.

The work of the Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark Association focuses on the support and development of multiple educational and tourist activities. The Educational Programs that meet the most diverse levels of teaching and the different areas of knowledge and the Tourist Programs that provide the experience of truly unique experiences.

Geopark Terras de Cavaleiros

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Biosphere Reserve

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Paul do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve Paul do Boquilobo is the largest aquatic ecosystem representative of inland wetlands, once common throughout the territory of Portugal. Without prejudice to a high biodiversity in the fauna in general, birds are the main value, reason for its classification as a Nature Reserve by Decree-Law No. 198/80, dated June 24.

The international recognition of this region was confirmed by its classification in 1981 as a Biosphere Reserve, and the first Portuguese Protected Area was granted this important distinction. In 1996 it was also considered a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Since 1999, due to its importance for avifauna, it is also classified as a Special Protection Area in accordance with the Birds Directive no. 2009/147/EC. In 1991 it was inventoried as Biotope CORINE C21400012.

This region, which includes not only the nature reserve but also a large area of the municipalities of GolegĂŁ and Torres Novas, houses an important colony of herons, spoonbills and other species that come from part of the African continent. It receives significant populations of Anatidae from northern Europe.

It is important point in the autumnal migrations of passeriformes and other birds and in it they occur or nest some rare species in Portugal and in Europe.

Taking into account the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, we intend in the short term to incorporate in the region a new paradigm of development that will be based on a perspective of conservation and valorization of nature and natural resources, an economy based on natural capital and incorporating its value of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The Paul Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve will, in the medium term, be one of the most qualified, attractive and productive territories in the region, combining nature conservation with sustainable economic development, thus contributing to the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. To this end, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Paul do Boquilobo will greatly contribute to its appreciation.

The Biosphere Reserve of Paul do Boquilobo presents itself as a space with high potential to assert itself as a sustainable tourist destination. The products of nature tourism, cultural, equestrian tourism, rural tourism and other emergent ones identify themselves as potential promoters of this classified territory.

Genetic heritage, particularly the Lusi-

tanian horse, museography, architectural heritage (mostly religious heritage with great interest, part of it classified and recognized by visitors), material heritage, rural heritage, are symbols of quality. The territory is rich in landscape and tradition, characteristics conducive to its development.

The artistic heritage, memory of times past, has been, in the last decade, the musealization of the landscape through the construction of monuments that tell the story of a people. The relevant cultural and leisure events, where the national horse fair stands out and high number of visitors, provide a model of sustainable development, appreciated quality of life, consistent governance and social cohesion, on the way to the knowledge society.

Dare and visit us. Enjoy the pleasure of the rural world, enjoy the biodiversity, nature, culture, gastronomy.

Biosphere Reserve of Paul do Boquilobo

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© Nuno Sá

Corvo Island Biosphere Reserve

Following this plan, we can see that Corvine activities are closely linked to a sustainable use of natural resources and often carry out various activities to ensure livelihoods. The Corvina population learned early on that they live in a special place and that in order to survive they have to keep their labor in balance with nature.

This is a fine example of how the management of the territory of the Corvo Biosphere Reserve contemplates practices that are part of UNESCO’s Agenda 2030.

The implementation of the “Corvo Sustentável” project, which resulted from the ARAAL contract signed between the Regional Government of the Azores and Corvo City Hall, replacing the liquefied petroleum gas equipment, with a view to the installation of solar panels and heat pumps for heating of sanitary waters in all residences of the island that are allocated to permanent housing. This highlights the concerns of the Government of the Azores in the use of endogenous energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels. The installation of these equipment was reflected in a significant economic saving for the families and also in the reduction of the emission of gases harmful to atmosphere, which results from the use of fossil fuels.

In 2012, with the inauguration of the Waste Processing Center, Corvo took a major step in the management of municipal waste. The equipment provided the municipality with the necessary infrastructures to correspond to that specified in the Strategic Plan for Waste Management of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The center is a strategic investment to reduce the environmental impact on the island and to guarantee the environmental sustainability of the Region. In the scope of biodiversity and

The creation of the Corvo Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center by the Regional Government of the Azores, a pioneer structure in the Azores, aimed at the recovery and rehabilitation of wild birds, enables the Natural Park to develop an important action in environmental education and preservation of species.

At the level of the safeguarding of the cultural heritage, the project Ecomuseu of Corvo, inserted in the Regional Network of Museums of the Azores, is currently taking place. The structure, implemented on the initiative of the Regional Government of the Azores, is in

charge of characterizing the territory, the character of its people and the history of the community, in order to safeguard and enhance the cultural identity of Corvo.

Associated with this Biosphere Reserve there are elements of outstanding biodiversity and geodiversity, such as the existence of endemic species of flora, fauna and Geospatial of the Azores Geopark, UNESCO World Geopark. In addition to these elements we have the important Caldeirão wetland, classified as a Ramsar site.

In addition to the preservation of natural values, other activities are framed in Agenda 2030, as is the case of bird watching, an activity that includes Corvo Island in the international birdwatching circuit. The possibility of diving into the “Caneiro dos Meros” Voluntary Reserve, an area that is respected through the conciliation of good wishes from the community of fishermen, hunters and tourist agents, resembles a journey back in time that reminds us how our seas where before the intensive fishing and how they can be, when the right measures are taken to safeguard the natural heritage.

Four hundred and a few people come to hold a feast and to keep alive the ancestral devotions. Reason why in the Corvo, as in all the islands of this archipelago, the feasts of the Holy Spirit congregate the whole population. Among the celebrations of a religious and profane nature are the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Miracles - Feast of the Patroness (which takes place on August 15 of each year), to which the Festival of Moinhos is associated.

Corvo Island Biosphere Reserve

© Nuno Sá

This project marks the first step so that in the near future Corvo will meet the conditions to implement an integrated system of alternative energies, combining, in addition to the solar panels, wind energy and hydric energy, thus achieving a sustainable project at the energy level.

nature conservation, the LIFE Project “Sanctuary Islands for Sea Birds” was developed, which took place between 2009 and 2012. A pioneering project for the conservation of seabird colonies in the Azores, aiming at the recovery of their and measures to control and eradicate introduced invasive species. After its completion, the Life Post-Project Action Plan was implemented, which aims to give continuity to the commitments made when implementing the project.

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Corvo Island, the smallest of the Azores islands, located in the extreme northwest of the archipelago, was recognized in September 2007 as a Biosphere Reserve. The island and a surrounding marine area constitute one of the 669 Biosphere Reserves recognized by UNESCO that exist worldwide.

In Lima, Peru, about a year ago, UNESCO adopted a new action plan for the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The document promotes these spaces as an engine for achieving the objectives of 2030 sustainable development and the fight against climate change.

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This recognition reflects the island’s unique characteristics, such as the Ilhéu da Praia, where the most important and diversified seabird colony of the Azores, Furna do Enxofre, an impressive lava cave that holds the largest volcanic dome in Europe, is nesting. The peculiar rural architecture that promotes the so-called “Casa da Graciosa” and the “Architecture of Water”, an original expression of the lack of water that has always hit the people of Graciosa Island.

the discovery of a new species of seabird for science, a local endemism called the monterey panther (Hydrobates monteiroi) that nests in Graciosa Islanders. On the other hand, with a coastline that is easily accessible from the many traditional huts and a particularly beautiful seabed, it has come to stand out in the archipelago as the “diving capital of the Azores”, in an interesting local search activity dynamic environmentally sustainable.

Like the other islands of the archipelago, the settlement of Graciosa has been working for several years in order to guarantee the sustainability of the people who settled there. The need to ensure the sustainable use of a finite, insular territory with only 60.66 square kilometers, and the continuity of its resources, to ensure the regular sustenance of its people, has

This objective has a greater relevance today, since the sustainability of these territories involves the valorization of the protection, recovery and dissemination of local habitats and species in a differentiating logic of Graciosa Island in the regional, national and international panorama.

In 2015 the local population of asininos recognized as an autochthonous breed Burro da Graciosa - a manifestation that allows the recognition and preservation of this animal species.

In addition to the preservation of natural values, other actions are integrated into the objectives of Agenda 2030, as is the case of the promotion of Graciosa Island as the main destination of the archipelago for nature tourism in the aspects of ornithology and marine, due to the multiplicity and diversity of underwater environments that comprise a great wealth of ecological niches and the potential of the island in the observation of seabirds, taking care of the diversity of the colonies that nest in the diverse islets and coast line.

Also with regard to the objectives of the The natural characteristics of Graciosa Island were reflected in its architecture, being the urban center of Vila de Santa Cruz da Graciosa classified as a public interest group, through regional legislative decree nº 10/88/A, being a place of urban, architectural and historical interest.

The festivities and musical traditions are strongly rooted in Ilha Graciosa. Of these celebrations stands out the great Feast of the Lord Santo Cristo dos Milagres. © ©Siaram Siaram

But it is undoubtedly the islanders that added the island’s candidacy to the Biosphere Reserve. As important nesting habitats for seabirds, they also serve as rest/passage areas for migrating birds.

As a result of its unique fauna, this study has been fostered by the scientific community, which in 2008 resulted in

Agenda 2030, namely to ensure access to reliable, sustainable and modern sources of energy for all, a pioneering project is being implemented in Graciosa, run by Younicos, which seeks to make the island independent of non-renewable energy sources. The applied model aims to build a wind farm and a photovoltaic park, including a battery power station to store energy produced, which will allow 65 percent of the energy consumed in Ilha Graciosa to come from renewable sources and be disposed of less 134 thousand tons of CO2 in the next 20 years.

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Graciosa, the smallest of the five islands of the central group, has always been evident from the other islands of the archipelago by its soft and low relief. Being the lowest of the Azorean islands is also the one that denotes the lowest rainfall of the archipelago. However, these constraints are compensated by a large set of unique landscape, geological, environmental and cultural values ​​that made Graciosa Island become part of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves Network in September 2007, Bureau of the International Coordination Council of the MaB Program - Man and the Biosphere.

always encouraged them to a weighted management of natural resources, Particularly of water and soil. These uses have ensured an environmental quality that has survived to the present day, namely through the maintenance of the functions and components of the ecosystem where the living conditions of the population and other living beings have been assured, much as is currently advocated by the United Nations Agenda 2030 United Nations, with regard to the protection of marine and terrestrial life.

Graciosa Island Biosphere Reserve

© Siaram

In 2007, Graciosa Island became part of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves Network. Such recognition comes from a set of unique landscape, geological, environmental and cultural values that endure, reflecting a sustainable development based on the empirical knowledge that has always guided the Graciosenses.

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Graciosa Island Biosphere Reserve

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Flores Island Biosphere Reserve

The Biosphere Reserve presents areas of international importance as a nesting site for important species of seabirds. It also includes four areas integrated in the European Union’s Natura 2000 network: two Special Protection Areas and two Sites of Community Importance. There are 24 natural habitats identified in Annex I of the Habitats Directive of the European Union, of which five are priority areas.

The island presents a vigorous relief, with a plateau structure in two steps, from where several volcanic devices are projected. In the flattened zones surrounding these cones there is a group of boilers or ponds, old shallow or deep craters, with water accumulated in their lower part. The high and humid areas of the Central Meseta contain the largest bog of the region, vital for the water balance of the island and for the characteristic rivers and cascades, which define the landscape. Active high peatlands and wooded peatlands are priority habitats (Habitats Directive), the latter being associated with the largest cedar forest (Juniperus brevifolia) in the Azores. There are also two other priority habitat types, the endemic Macaronesian

The island’s coastline has high cliffs and displays a vigorous cut, complemented by numerous islets and cliffs located in close proximity to the coast. Access difficulties have preserved over the centuries the importance of these sites as nesting areas for important species of seabirds.

The important natural, landscape and cultural heritage, internationally recognized, was the basis for the creation by the Regional Government of the Azores of the Flores Island Natural Park. This park came

The elevation of the island to the Biosphere Reserve also reinforced the legitimacy of the actions promoted by the Natural Park of the Island and to project it internationally, encouraging activities that value biodiversity, from tourism to the export of local products. It has also encouraged research projects with a focus on ecosystem management, promoting international cooperation and enhancing local incentives for sustainable development that rewards local knowledge and links between human activities and biological diversity.

The restructuring of activities and the revitalization of the local economy have been an important goal of municipalities,

The island of Flores has aroused the interest of researchers residing in the archipelago and/or visitors. The research developed in the island of Flores has been diversified, covering various topics such as biology and ecology studies of organisms, characterization of populations, communities and systems, geomorphological, hydrologic, volcanological, climatic, demographic, socioeconomic and cultural aspects, among others. Considering the activities already developed and in progress, and the importance of Flores Island in the context of the Azores and North Atlantic archipelago, it represents an ideal natural laboratory for the implementation of integrated management plans and models. The results of the projects developed have also been used in the creation of environmental awareness and education materials and initiatives promoted both inside and outside the island. At this level, Ecoteca das Flores plays an important role, which has a privileged space to guarantee logistical support for the development of these actions. The construction of the Center for Environmental Interpretation and Boqueirão, under the responsibility of the Regional Government, created a multidisciplinary structure based on new technologies, aimed at attracting visitors’ interest in the knowledge of habitats and natural resources and in the study of the ocean.

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moorlands and the Laurissilva forest. The Rocha dos Bordões, with its rare large prismatic structure, is a landscaped emblem of the island and the archipelago, classified as a Natural Monument.

Regional Government and local entrepreneurs, resulting in the elaboration and implementation of several instruments, such as the Municipal Councils of the two municipalities (PDM ), The Regional Plan for Spatial Planning of the Azores (PROTA), the Sustainable Development Plan of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (PReDSA) and the Tourism Planning Plan of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (POTRAA).

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The Biosphere Reserve is centered on the island of Flores, the sixth island of the Archipelago. The Reserve covers the entire area of ​​the island and an adjacent marine area, covering a total area of ​​58,619 hectares, containing in its interior unique landscape, geological, environmental and cultural values at ​​ regional, national and international level.

to give legal status of protection, through the implementation of management measures in function of the protection figures.

It has also promoted the preservation and rehabilitation of ecosystems, habitats and species and the harmonization of the human relationship with the landscape.

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The Flores Island Biosphere Reserve, approved in May 2009, covers the whole area of the island and an adjacent marine area, covering a total area of 58,619 hectares, containing in its interior landscape, geological, environmental and cultural values unique in the regional, national and international levels.

The diversity and originality of the natural and cultural resources give the island of Flores a high potential for the practice of tourism, with a notable vocation for the deepening of scientific tourism and nature.

The Flores Reserve is part of the ongoing REDBIOS (Atlantic Atlantic Biosphere Reserves Network), together with the Biosphere Reserves of the Corvo and Graciosa islands, and more recently, the Fajãs de São Jorge, increasing cooperation And, consequently, broadening the vision of sustainable development throughout the

Autonomous Region of the Azores.

In Flores, great importance is attached to the preservation of the customs and the cultural traits that define it, which is reflected by the diversity of cultural events.

In addition to the traditional festivities of the Divino Espírito Santo, the highlights of the Cais das Poças Festivities are in Santa Cruz, and the Emigrant Festivities in Lajes das Flores.

Biosphere Reserve of Flores Island

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Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Combining nature conservation and socio-economic development is a challenge in the management of all territories. When these include the only Portuguese National Park (Peneda Gerês National Park) and a Spanish Natural Park (Baixa Limia Natural Park - Serra do Xurés), the challenge is much greater.

The creation of the Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve in 2009 marked the moment when the entities responsible for managing this area demonstrated their commitment to build a cross-border institution that would effectively unite all partners in the territory, which being divided by a frontier, is effectively an environmental and cultural continuum.

By incorporating sustainable development into the definition of strategies for the territory is being given a signal of the clear bet on the leverage of a strategy of sustainable economic development based on natural resources. And that is the way forward when we are looking at the management of a Biosphere Reserve.

We must make it clear that, on the one hand, it is essential to ensure the safeguarding, conservation and restoration of natural heritage. On the other hand, it is of the utmost importance to focus on the dynamism of local/regional economic activities compatible with natural values. It is from this equilibrium that a truly sustainable growth is built.

The approval by the bodies of the Gerês -Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve of the Biosphere Reserve Action Plan for the period 2015-2020, with a total planned investment of 13,374,607 euros, is the full demonstration of the involvement of all partners with responsibility in the territory in an articulated strategy of promotion of the Biosphere Reserve

at the level of the consolidation of its image and identity, of the socioeconomic development, of the conservation of the nature and the participation and community involvement in the management of this territory.

The creation of the Gerês-Xurés Transborder Biosphere Reserve, rather than endowing the territory with a unanimous recognition as a synonym for quality, has allowed us to create a new breath in this territory of excellence, which, as a result

of a balanced age-long coexistence between human presence and Environment, has reached the present day with the unique natural and cultural values that characterize it.

Balancing the conservation and use of resources, taking full advantage of the endogenous potential of local initiatives, betting on innovation capacity and openness to new models is a demanding and complex task, but essential to the sustainability of this territory. This is the mission we have undertaken in the Gerês-Xurés Biosphere Reserve, which, with the involvement of all local actors, we are certain we will be able to carry out.

Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve

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Berlengas/Peniche Biosphere Reserve The Berlengas/Peniche Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO) is a territory where natural values are complemented by innovative approaches to the sustainable use of marine resources.

Economic exploitation - tourism and fisheries, together with research and knowledge, contributes to the existence of a living laboratory based on the relationship between man and the biosphere.

This project will include the main threats that affect the natural values of ​​ Berlengas, land and sea, and strategies to minimize and eradicate them. It is also intended to promote the sustainable use of Berlengas SPA, focusing on three key activities: fishing, recreational activities and tourism.

menting several projects in partnership with other entities, which due to the specificity of the territory have given special focus to the objectives of the United Nations Agenda 2030 related to the protection of marine life (14) and renewable energy (7).

The Berlengas Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO), encompasses highly productive marine ecosystems and sustains fisheries of high economic value.

However, such activities should be guided by practices that promote the sustainability of resources and socio-economic components. In this sense, it is intended to implement a co-management committee for the catchment activity in the Berlengas Archipelago. It is a project submitted to MAR2020, promoted by ESTM-IPLeiria, through MARE-IPLeiria, and which integrates WWF, the University of Évora and the ICNF, in close collaboration with the Association of Mariscadores de Berlenga. Specifically, the project intends to implement a catch collection committee to monitor and monitor not only the fishery but also the resource, and implement surveillance

The Berlengas Biosphere Reserve (RBB) includes the Berlengas archipelago (Berlenga, Farilhões-Forcadas and Estelas), a maritime corridor and the city of Peniche. It covers a total area of​​ 18502.3 hectares, corresponding four percent to the land area and 96 percent to the marine area. The Berlengas archipelago, which contains the ecosystems and habitats with the highest conservation value, is located on the Portuguese continental shelf at a distance of 5.7 nautical miles from the mainland.

The insular ecosystem, the biological value of the surrounding marine area, the high botanical interest, the role of the island in terms of marine avifauna, the presence of interesting underwater archaeological heritage and relations with the fishing community are key factors in this Biosphere Reserve.

The RBB also encompasses a territory of enormous geological value, in which the geomonument of the Thunder Point classified as the stratum of the Toarcian period by the International Union on Geological Sciences is its maximum exponent.

Through the actors responsible for its management, the municipality of Peniche, the Institute of Nature and Forestry Conservation (ICNF) and the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria - School of Tourism and Technology of the Sea (ESTM-IPLeiria), RBB has been imple-

Through the LIFE Berlengas project, coordinated by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, in partnership with the ICNF, the Municipality of Peniche, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the New University of Lisbon and having as an external observer ESTM-IPLeiria, a contribution will be made to the sustainable management of the Berlengas Special Protection Area (SPA), with the aim of conserving its habitats, endemic plants and seabird populations.

and monitoring measures for fisheries.

The growing worldwide interest in valuing ecosystem services, ranging from the simple provision of essential goods (e.g. water) to cultural services (e.g. recreational activities) and/or support (e.g. primary production), is now recognized. In this context, it arose from the need to make society aware of the importance of existing RBB UNESCO ecosystems. To do so, it was considered that the form most easily understood by any citizen falls under an economic metric, attributing a monetary value to each of the services provided by ecosystems.

Its economic valuation has made it possible to estimate that the Berlengas Biosphere Reserve has an annual impact of around 12 million euros in the local and regional economy.

In terms of renewable energy, the territory of Peniche has established itself as a place of excellence for the testing and validation of innovative technologies for the use of wave energy. After the proof-of-concept phase of waveroller technology, the first wave energy park will soon be installed, placing Peniche territory at the forefront of marine renewable energy worldwide.

skills to develop an ecotourism activity that is in accordance with the enormous heritage value of RBB UNESCO, a training program has been defined for maritime tourism operators operating in this area. territory.

The RBB UNESCO is a classified area that has constraints that may be limiting its tourist exploitation. Some dominant practices in coastal areas may not fit, and these limitations should not be seen as an obstacle to tourism development, but rather as an opportunity. Thus, it is understood that tourism companies that are able to understand the specificities and uniqueness of the Archipelago will have great advantages compared to the competition. In order to train maritime tourism operators with the necessary

With the objective to value the heritage and at the same time to make more attractive the activities of nature tourism in the territory affiliated to the Berlengas Biosphere Reserve, a set of communication contents on the natural heritage and biodiversity was published.

This is an active contribution to the improvement of the experience of the visit to the island of Berlenga, to increase the quality of the offer of the maritime tourism operators and to the environmental awareness of the visitors, in

order to adopt behaviors appropriate to the presence in a territory of enormous natural value.

The classification awarded by UNESCO to the Peniche/Berlengas territory in 2011 as a Biosphere Reserve within the scope of the “Man and the Biosphere Program” is the recognition of its enormous patrimonial value, assuming itself as a seal of quality that enhances its attractiveness and economic development, in parallel with the accountability of different actors in achieving the commitments on sustainability and the balance between the presence of man and the conservation of nature.

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Santana/Madeira Biosphere Reserve Santana is a county in the north of the island of Madeira with unique characteristics, not only for its landscape and forest richness but also for its vast rural heritage. Being the second largest municipality in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, it has a biodiversity rich in flora and fauna, where the Laurissilva Forest stands out, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since June 29, 2011, Santana is a municipality stretching from sea to mountain, which includes the highest point of Madeira Island, Pico Ruivo (1861 meters of altitude), and the Rocha do Navio (1996), which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The municipality of Santana offers important opportunities for the development of ecologically sustainable and educational human activities that can demonstrate the importance of fauna and flora in local life and regional economy, as well as the interdependence of cultural and biological diversity.

The Biosphere Reserve, as a motivating and catalyzing tool for activities based on the conservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage, is understood by the municipality and citizens as a reinforcement of the opportunities for diversification and renewal of local and regional development. And promote initiatives capable of renewing and revitalizing the local economy and social development. The Santana Biosphere Reserve intends to be a space for confluence of the different local and regional actors, creating opportunities to stimulate initiatives for the conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage and mechanisms to highlight this option for the sustainable development that the municipality of Santana takes on.

The municipality of Santana is characterized not only by its natural heritage, with its beautiful landscape and forest rich-

ness, but also by the valuable and extensive cultural heritage (immovable, mobile and immaterial), which stands out from the typical thatched houses that role in the domestic economy of the county. There are also in the council a set of ethnographic objects, previously used in economic and domestic activities, such as looms, used in the confection of fabrics for household garments and for garments such as towels, among others.

Santana is essentially a rural municipality where agriculture predominates, but with some tourism development in a segment that has managed to maintain tradition and landscape. This is an attractive challenge

that has allowed a change in the model of local socioeconomic development without loss of identity and character of the people of Santana and without mortgaging the natural values that ​​ Santana has. The Santana Biosphere Reserve award made possible the creation of important tools and dynamics for the dissemination and conservation of the natural, historical and cultural heritage. The commitment of the various sectors, the partnerships created with local, regional and national institutions reveal the will to achieve the objectives proposed in the application presented.

The trend towards population decline due to the displacement of the population to more urban areas of the Autonomous Region of Madeira has led the municipality to dedicate a significant effort to the implementation of a model of restructuring and revitalization of the municipality, which is intended to transpose to the level of the territorial management of the activities to be developed, standing out in this scope the revision of the Municipal Master Plan (PDM) already in

phase of conclusion. This review will enable the realization of strategic objectives that will enhance the Biosphere Reserve, especially as regards the valorization of the rural world (promotion of agricultural activities, defense of the humanized landscape as a capital maintenance and valorisation factor of the tourism product), valorization of heritage and urban qualification, promotion of identity and territorial cohesion (providing conditions of economic, social and territorial equity in access to goods, services and equipment).

The restoration of built heritage, and in the specific case of the Santana Biosphere Reserve, has been one of the most visible projects, considering that the typical thatch, ex-libris of the county and the Autonomous Region of Madeira, belong to the historical legacy. In addition to this, the recovery of the sections of the primitive Royal Route 23, which circled the island of Madeira along the coast, passing by the coastal parishes and which had a closer connection with the capital of the Region.

The valorization and enhancement of one of the core areas of the Reserve - Rocha do Navio site, a natural reserve, in a year that marks its 20th anniversary - has served to increase the number of visitors.

The municipality of Santana is the second largest in the Autonomous Region of Madeira in terms of geography, thus having a strong representation of the most important elements of the biodiversity of Madeira Island, both species and ecosystems. Indeed, the existence of a unique ecological and environmental richness of great importance for the conservation of biodiversity, not only at regional level but also at the global level, together with the existence of a reduced population that promotes and disseminates its culture, uses And customs across borders, makes the municipality of Santana an appropria-

te place to promote human and economic development in a sustainable way - always having as its basic principle the protection and conservation of the biodiversity that characterizes it.

The “Biological Pedagogical Gardens” project, implemented in the schools associated with the Reserve, seeks to raise the awareness of the educational community towards the practice of organic/sustainable agriculture for human and environmental health, as well as to promote the learning of how to produce food in a healthy, respecting the natural cycles, reuse of agricultural and domestic surpluses in

order to reduce the use of some natural resources, protecting the environment and, in turn, leaving a good inheritance for future generations.

The Santana Madeira Biosphere Reserve presents itself as a space where biodiversity, along with the historical and cultural heritage linked to it, constitutes an important differentiating factor of our territory, and in particular of our Region. Santana Madeira Biosphere, For Life, For the Future!

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Iberian Meseta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve “Two countries, two territories, a common future” is the slogan of the Iberian Meseta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, the largest in Europe, encompassing counties of Terra Fria, Terra Quente, Douro Superior and Beira Alta, on the Portuguese side, and Zamora And Salamanca, Spain. The Iberian Meseta wants to be an example of the conciliation between the sustainable development, the action of the Man and the preservation of the biodiversity.

“There is no conservation of nature without human action, because man is the basic structure of the ecosystem”. This statement is the basis of all the work developed by the Iberian Meseta Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO in July 2015, following an application made by the European Grouping of Territorial CooperationZASNET EGTC. In spite of the “youth” of this Reserve, its activity is already well known in the territory, starting with the actions of education and sensitization developed, always focusing on value and the responsibility for preservation and valorization of existing biodiversity, but always seen as the result of mutual respect between the activity of man and the requirements of conservation.

It is with the school communities, with the younger population, that this bet is being made with greater incidence, a privileged public for the transmission of the message and for the necessary construction of new postures suitable for sustainable development. Culture, traditions, heritage, gastronomy, agricultural activity, tourism, among other factors are considered here in the component of sustainability, mainly economic and financial, promoting and valuing the productive practices of the territory, we foment the production of wealth, the creation of jobs and social inclusion. Education and awareness are fundamental for the people to understand and embrace a UNESCO seal like the Iberian Meseta.

The involvement of the community and the

agents of the territory is decisive for the success of any initiative.

The Transboundary Iberian Meseta Biosphere Reserve is already responsible for creating a unique brand to identify products and services in the territory. A common brand, which gives the consumer quality assurance, which adds value to local products. This brand is being presented to the community, in proximity sessions, going against the productive agents, thus achieving a greater involvement in the project.

This Biosphere Reserve is also at the forefront of territorial promotion actions, once again valuing the environmental and cultural components, but fundamentally the endogenous products and services provided to the visitors who want to attract, in order to contribute an objective form for the dynamization of the local economy, for the creation of wealth.

Tourism is seen as an essential sector for the development, a tourism that wants to be responsible, that respects and values​​ the local culture and identity. An example of this is the application to be submitted to UNESCO for recognition of the Winter Masks and Festivities as Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Originating in pagan antiquity, the Winter Festivities maintain a strong popular character, with uses and costumes that pass from generation to generation. Held in various villages in

the period from Christmas to the day of Kings or during Carnival, these solstice celebrations have in common the presence of diabolical characters that bring the promise of a new cycle, with music and great joy.

Also with the project “Destination Frontier” is intended to project to the outside a territory with very particular characteristics where cultures of two countries are mixed.

The Iberian Meseta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve also participates in the Slow Food movement, another project to valorise local gastronomy, which takes advantage of know-how and endogenous products.

When the territory is promoted under this seal of UNESCO, the whole community, its values, its economic activities, its essence, are promoted, and it contributes to create wealth, which directly interferes with their quality of life, social inclusion and even local pride and happiness.

In the area of quality of life and climate change, Iberian Meseta, together with other partners, is involved in a research project on climate, crops and modes of production. It is a clear example of how research can and should be used in favor of communities, helping to find more appropriate solutions in the present to ensure a better future. This particular project has a lot to do with increasing the productivity of local crops, with the transformation itself, withdrawing economic benefits to the territory.

The Iberian Meseta is also in charge of the implementation of a Fire Prevention Plan, which involves several national and local actors, namely ICNF and local authorities, development associations and higher

education institutions. A plan that aims to preserve the environment and biodiversity but also safeguard the productive activities of the territory. Many other actions are underway, it is important to underline that the Iberian Meseta intends to be an active partner of local communities, creating permanent channels of communication and dialogue, sharing knowledge and knowledge, meeting the expectations of the populations.

The Iberian Meseta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve comprises eight protected areas (three in Spain and five in Portugal), 24 sites of community impor-

tance (17 in Spain and seven in Portugal), nine special protection zones (five in Spain and four in Portugal) and the Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark (in Portugal), an award of great importance in local valorization. UNESCO, as a highly reputed entity, is a guarantee of quality, which contributes to attract visitors who view tourism responsibly, with respect for local values and ​​ culture, willing to pay for what they see, and for what they consume, the tourist that leaves value and wealth in the territory.

Iberian Meseta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve

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The fajãs present a microclimate that influences their demand for the cultivation of some crops, such as coffee and various vegetables, and for tourism, being great places of rest and relaxation.

With about 70 fajãs counted, it stands out the Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, one of the ex-libris of São Jorge, a very sought -after scenario for those who want to enjoy the landscape, nature, surf and rural life of São Jorge.

In addition to the uniqueness of the multiple fajãs and a humanized landscape, São Jorge still retains areas of poorly managed habitats, especially in areas of higher altitude and difficult to reach, such as the cliffs.

Thus, in the high zones, are several humid communities that are vital for the water balance of the island and natural habitats of high ecological importance. In the cliffs and coastal areas there are still well preserved pockets of natural and endemic vegetation with high conservation value. The Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve is relevant due to the inherent characteristics of the island, combining the higher altitude zones with the coastal ecosystems, giving rise to a diverse ecosystem with a great variety of endemisms.

The intrinsic characteristics of the island allowed the development of the application of the Fajãs de São Jorge to the Biosphere Reserve and was approved unanimously and acclaimed by the International Coordination Council of the MaB - Man and the Biosphere Program of UNESCO On March 19, 2016, in Peru.

© Siaram

The Fajãs of São Jorge Biosphere Reserve has a total area of ​​98 114.17 hectares, corresponding to the entire land area of ​​the island and a surrounding marine area, whose boundary is three miles from the coastline.

in various technical meetings and training courses where the exchange of experiences and knowledge with other Biosphere Reserves became essential to develop their Plan of Action.

For sustainable management, the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve includes, in relation to Agenda 2030, the model of sustainable development proposed in the Statutory Framework, Mab Strategy (2015-2025), giving priority to the objectives: quality in education, equal Economic growth and labor, sustainable settlements and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, marine and terrestrial life, peace, justice and the strength of institutions, and partnerships between organizations.

In order to create the Action Plan for the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve, the Plan adopted the Lima Action Plan and the National Strategy to create a business plan with incentives for economic activity and contribute to the well - Being and quality of life of the population and visitors, without neglecting the conservation of biodiversity, landscape and cultural and historical identity. The Plan of Action of the Reserve intends to promote the preservation of natural and cultural values, create investment opportunities and job creation.

The contemplation of these objectives in the context of the territory and of the local populations aims at a framework of the Biosphere Reserve within the National Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO, whose purpose is to raise awareness of the need to preserve and conserve the natural and Cultural and sustainable development of territories. The entrance of the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve in the National Network allowed participation

In this sense, the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve is developing projects such as the Regional Plan for Education for Sustainable Development (PREDSA), the Regional Plan for Eradication and Control of Invasive Plant Species in Sensitive Areas (PRECEFIAS), The Regional Plan for Climate Change (PRAC-Azores Project), the Azores Seed Bank and others.

© Paulo Brasil Pereira (Siaram)

São Jorge is distinguished by its fajãs, authentic natural amphitheatres by the sea that show the balanced relationship between man and nature, in a mixture of cultures, traditions, landscapes, biodiversity and geodiversity, which it is important to preserve and value. In March 2016, the Fajãs de São Jorge are recognized as Biosphere Reserve.

© Paulo Brasil Pereira (Siaram)

Fajãs of S. Jorge Biosphere Reserve

The most central of the nine islands of the Azores Archipelago - the Island of São Jorge - presents an elongated, mountainous configuration due to the steep cliffs, mainly on the north coast, which makes the landscape abrupt. Alongside the enclosed valleys there are others that do not even reach sea level, being suspended at the top of the top, giving rise to magnificent waterfalls. On the coastal border, flat surfaces, called fajãs, appear punctually, which are a distinguishing feature of the island, the balanced relationship between man and nature and unique experiences, landscapes and biodiversity. The customs associated with the fajãs, unique in the Azores, have been consolidated over the years, resulting in a cultural specificity that continues to this day.

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To promote the sustainable growth of the territory and the local economy, the “Azores Biosphere” brand is published in order to boost the available supply.

The production of articles and the broadcasting of audiovisuals has contributed to the local, regional, national and international dissemination of the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve, promoting through tourism/geotourism the growth of the local economy.

Fajãs of São Jorge Biosphere Reserve

© Paulo Brasil Pereira (Siaram)

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Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve

The Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (RBTTI) covers the border of the Tagus border, adjacent valleys and flattened areas. The landscape is marked by the rivers of the region, in particular the river Tagus, with embedded valleys and steep slopes, that give beauty to the natural landscape of the region; also the rural landscape is present, namely the terraced olive grove with support walls and the cereal steppes. This area is endowed with a great diversity of birdlife, of which the black stork, the imperial eagle, the royal eagle and the black vulture stand out. In addition, there are other important species of fauna, such as the otter, the badger, the bustard and the bustard; There are still species of great hunting importance, with the boar and the deer. As far as flora is concerned, there are clumps of woodland and cork oak forests, riverside vegetation, predominantly of ash, willows, zambujais and typically Mediterranean bushes, such as rosemary, tojals and giestais.

In terms of heritage values, the villages of Monsanto, Idanha-a-Velha and Penha Garcia stand out for their cultural and ethnographic value. Of the built heritage is the Roman Bridge of Segura, the Cathedral of Castelo Branco, the House-Palace in Idanha-a-Nova, the Baroque Gardens of the Episcopal Palace in Castelo Branco and the Castle of Penafiel in Salvaterra do Extremo.

On the Spanish side, the Alcântara Bridge (2nd century), Roman engineering jewel, Alcântara Brozas, Valencia de Alcântara and Zarza la Mayor, with notable civil and reli-

gious buildings from the Middle Ages stand out. Several rural elements still remain well preserved, such as the mills and mills on the banks of the river Erges, and some traditional constructions, such as the mountains, the arraiais, the fissures and the weeds.

As for the fairs and traditions, the most important are the Pilgrimages of Our Lady of Mércules, in Castelo Branco, Nª Srª dos Remédios, Vila Velha de Rodão and N.Sra. do Almorthão, in Idanha- A-Nova, the Olive and Olive Fair, in Malpica do Tejo, the Hunting and Gastronomy Fair, in Monfortinho. In Spain, we can highlight the carnivals with their flushes in Cedillo, the “Domingo de toros”, in Zarza la Mayor, the Romería de San Isidro and the Mayos, in Valencia de Alcântara, “Festival Alcántara Clásico Theater and Festival”, the “Magusto”, in Carbajo.

The growing number of boat tours has contributed to a very significant increase

of visitors to this area and provided the dissemination of this territory. Also in the field of tourism and the dissemination of natural values ​​can be visited the Center for Interpretation of Biodiversity, in Segura, Idanha -a-Nova, and the Interpretive Center of the Tejo International Natural Park in Castelo Branco, the Center for Interpretation of Nature in Alcântara, the Interpretation Centers El Casón, in Cedillo and El Pendere, in Santiago de Alcântara.

The RBTTI has been disseminated in different schools at different levels of education, which is in line with the objectives of the UNESCO Agenda 2030.

It is a relatively recent biosphere reserve, which is still taking the first steps in terms of management bodies, operating regulation, logo. In the future, the award conferred

by UNESCO will give this territory a greater development, the implementation of projects of a sustainable nature, with inexorable interest for the populations, and a wide dissemination of the different values ​​that prevail throughout this territory.

Tejo/Tajo International Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve

© Eng.º Paulo Monteiro

The Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve was established on March 19, 2016 and has an area of 428.8 thousand hectares, of which 169.2 thousand hectares are in Portugal, in the counties of Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco and Vila Velha de Ródão. The remaining 259.60 thousand hectares are in Spanish territory, distributed by 14 municipalities.

Natural and Cultural World Heritage

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Cultural Landscape of Sintra The main purpose of the Agenda 2030 is to link States, local authorities, citizens and civil society organizations to a culture of active participation and shared responsibility. For the municipality, it is an excellent monitoring tool to evaluate its performance in the implementation of measures for the transition to sustainability.

In the definition of sustainable development policies for the municipality of Sintra, in its operationalization and in the allocation of means and resources for its implementation, the approval of sustainable development objectives and the universality of the Agenda 2030, taking into account the specificities of the municipality, will require a greater commitment from all municipal actors in the public policy of cooperation and development aimed at the 17 sustainable development objectives.

In that sense, there are guidelines that converge in the application of the following objectives: to create solid political landmarks at the regional level to support accelerated investments in poverty eradication actions; end hunger and ensure access for all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food throughout the year; ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning; build and improve physical facilities for education appropriate for children and people with disabilities; promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage; achieving sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources; promoting the implementation of sustai-

nable forest management, halting desertification and reforestation; develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

The implementation of these objectives starts at the outset to meet people’s needs. And that, per se, is of extreme importance for a municipality with more than 400 thousand inhabitants. Agenda 2030 addresses various dimensions of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental - by mobilizing the means of implementing financial resources, development technologies and transfer of capacity. Turning this vision into reality is the responsibility of the governments of the countries, but will also require new partnerships and institutional solidarity, involving civil society, companies and representatives of various in-

terest groups in promoting a fairer, more dignified and more sustainable Sintra.

Geotourism is an emerging segment of nature tourism or active tourism, with remarkable expansion around the world, and Sintra is no exception. It has, as a target audience, more demanding and informed people, who seek above all to experience, learn and enjoy the geological, cultural and natural heritage. In this sense, the Municipal Council of Sintra launched in 2015 the brand ActiveSintra as a way to promote active tourism, attracting and retaining visitors throughout the year and for longer stays.

Associated with the brand came a portal that started to gather all the necessary information to those who want to experience a true adventure in Sintra. The municipality, through the brand ActiveSintra and all its partners - accommodation and companies - is committed to the promotion of sustainable active tourism, in order to enhance the visitor’s experience, improve the local quality of life and contribute to a greener Sintra.

Heritage and tourism are increasingly inseparable realities, in which resources, heritage, natural or cultural, have become a great engine for attracting tourist flows, constituting as the foundation for the further development of attraction. Hence the awarding of UNESCO’s World Heritage status to historical and cultural sites, such as Sintra, has led destination managers to use such a prize in their communication, promotion and positioning strategies as a powerful Attractiveness and differentiation between destinations. The Sintra City Council is aware that tourism has become in the last decades one of the most profitable activities, given the existing knowledge about the statistical reality of this activity.

The historical and architectural circumstances have dictated for Sintra and for its hills a unique individuality that is not exhausted in the Pena Palace. But on the contrary, it has oscillated between the theory and the assumption of the “construction” of a romantic landscape, being formalized in archetypes that led to the vast set of revivalist architecture and which, XX inside. Sintra is not a village at all, as historian Vítor Serrão wrote in 1989, Sintra is World Heritage of Humanity, it is Cultural Landscape (classified by UNESCO). It is a parallel universe, which we only know about dreams, but it is very close to here and in which we highlight the following places of obligatory visit: National Palace of Pena, National Palace of Sintra, Palace and Park of Monserrate, National Palace of Queluz, Palace And Quinta da Regaleira, Capuchos Convent, Moorish Castle, Liberty Park, Pena Park, Cabo da Roca, Sintra beaches, S. Pedro Fair, Queijo da Sapa and Pilgrims of Piriquita.

Sintra Cultural Landscape

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Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde The Côa Valley, together with other neighboring towns, is Europe’s largest outdoor paleolithic rock art complex. After the danger of being under the waters of the dam of Foz Côa, several recorded rocks can be visited today. The Museum opened in 2010 is an introduction to the visitor.

Côa rock art has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1998. It was the fastest classification process in the history of the list. This was due to the intense international campaign that led to the cancellation by the Portuguese Government of the construction of the mega-dam of Foz Côa, thus avoiding the destruction of hundreds of rocks recorded from the Palaeolithic to our days. The area that would be affected by the hydroelectric project, as well as a large part of other surrounding areas, was transformed into the Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley (PAVC).

Today more than 1000 panels in shale with more than 10000 engravings are known. Archaeological research has also led to the identification, throughout the region, of numerous sites with vestiges of occupation from the Lower Palaeolithic to Roman times. In 2010, UNESCO recognized that the Siega Verde engraving area on the banks of another of the Douro tributaries, Águeda, but in Spain, also deserved to be classified as World Heritage, creating a transnational UNESCO (the only one of its kind in Portugal).

Of the more than 60 locations with engravings in the Côa Valley, only three are currently open to the public, with a guided visit: Canada do Inferno, Penascosa and Ribeira de Piscos. With the inauguration of the Côa Museum, in 2011, a new area was opened from the point of view of tourism. The Museum, made of root, is remarkably integrated in the landscape. In it, visitors can visit an introductory

exhibition of rock art with panels, reproductions and films, as well as see a selection of the most important artifacts and finds. The building houses technical and scientific services, a teaching space dedicated to schools and a restaurant/cafe.

The latter, with an amazing view over the Douro, provide the ideal environment for a short break or meal. Proof that you’re on the right track comes from increased visitors, more than 32,000 in the last year, and recognition as the “Certificate of Excellence” TripAdvisor.

Currently, the Museum and the Park are managed by FundaçãoCôa Parque, which has had some financing difficulties, which have been tried to solve. It is worth remembering that geographically the Park is part of the “Douro Demarcated Region”, where in recent years the production of

highly awarded red wines has been joined by the sale of other more traditional products such as olive oil and almond. Quinta de Ervamoira (Ramos Pinto), with its site museum, is a good example of how wine, gastronomy, archeology and tourism can contribute to the sustainable development of an area. 20 years after the abandonment of the dam, many of the promises are still to be fulfilled and it is hoped that they will be fulfilled in the future. The construction of new access roads and the youth hostel will contribute, in the coming years, to a better knowledge of this site and the wonderful heritage left by the ancient prehistoric inhabitants of the heart, which deserves to be appreciated, but also protected for generations future.

Mila Simões de Abreu, Coordinator of the Archeology Unit, CETRAD - University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro; Founder of the “Movement for the Safeguarding of Rock Art of the Côa Valley”; Member of the International Federation of Rock Art Organizations

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Alto Douro Vinhateiro

The goals are also to increase inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacities for the planning and management of participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlements by 2030; as well as strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage and support positive economic, social and environmental relations.

In terms of climate action, there is the objective of integrating measures into national policies, strategies and planning and improving education, raising awareness and human and institutional capacity on mitigation, adaptation, impact mitigation and early warning on climate change.

The sector of activity that shows the greatest capacity for growth is tourism, an exciting fact taking into account the potential of the region. To this extent,

Together with the prevention of climate change problems, the Douro has been developing and developing innovative studies and projects to safeguard the region’s identity and wine heritage, with a view to adapting grapes and crops to the scenarios that are being developed. In fact, Port and Douro wine has been the greatest factor of internationalization in the region, and its quality and sustainability must be safeguarded as a product of excellence, without neglecting its importance in the evolution of the classified landscape.

Indeed, the recent past of the region has been marked by investments made not only in the urban and environmental requalification of the territory, but also in a set of cultural and tourism projects that are deeply rooted in the territory, anchored in its endogenous products. The PROVERE and the specific opportunities geared towards tourism are examples of this. The Douro became part of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Destinations - Geotourism after the establishment of a partnership with the

© Concurso de Fotografia do Douro 2010/Sónia Arrepia

The goal is to achieve decent work and inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. These are achieved through higher productivity levels of economies through diversification, technological modernization and innovation.

management is particularly committed to promoting and implementing projects that foster territorially based economic development, drawing on the endogenous resources of the region.

Vitiviniculture has been the core of the economic activity of this region and has sustained the development of the Tourism sector, boosted by the classification of World Heritage in 2001, not only at the level of Enotourism, but also Cultural Touring and Nature Tourism. The Douro Valley Tourism Development Plan (20072013) focused on the value and uniqueness of the Douro landscape, identifying strategic priorities, measures and typology of priority projects that could be cofinanced by the community funds.

National Geographic Society, having developed a guide map and a website.

It is also important to highlight the strategic role of the Via Navegável do Douro as a link between three sites classified by UNESCO - the Historic Center of Porto, the ADV and the Archaeological Sites of Art of the Vale do Côa and Siega Verde, with connection to the route of the World Heritage on the other side of the border.

In parallel, the region has grown in what to knowledge, science and innovation concerns. In addition to the research and development projects of new technologies that UTAD and IPB have placed at the service of the productive sector, the role of the newly created Wine and Wine Excellence Center is highlighted as a driving force in this sector.

Recently, the territory was reinforced by the UTAD UNESCO Chair “Geoparks, Sustainable Regional Development and Healthy Lifestyles”, which aims to create an innovative and integrated network of research, teaching, knowledge transfer and communication and training for development agents. Territories. In addition, the integration in the Safeguard List of the Black Clay of Bisalhães, ancestral pottery with characteristics and very own manufacture. There is also the Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark, which in general allows us to think and manage the territory as a single whole, diverse and complex.

The actors of the territory realized the importance of the partnerships, so you can list some products of this strategy, such as the Network of Douro Wine Villages, which express the reality of Douro, legends traditions and gastronomy boosted by a program of cultural animation. The Douro Museum is dedicated to the collection,

© CCDR-N/Egídio Santo

Alto Douro Vinhateiro (ADV) was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a category of Evolutionary and Living Cultural Landscape, on December 14, 2001. It corresponds to the most representative and best preserved area of the Douro Demarcated Region, being the oldest Demarcated and regulated wine region of the world.

The UN approval of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, consisting of 17 objectives, based on 169 goals, was taken into account in the management of the ADV, considering the more or less direct contribution to its implementation.

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© Concurso de Fotografia do Douro 2010/Rui Ademar Pires

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preservation, identification and dissemination of the vast museum and documentary heritage dispersed throughout the region, from which the MUD, the Douro Museums Network, was established, a platform for cooperation and communication between different museological and cultural context. Still the Network of Monuments of the Valley of the Varosa that has properties and historical elements of high tourist-cultural interest. And finally, the vast number of farms that opened their doors to tourism offering numerous services that include lodging, catering and sensory experiences.

At the same time, the region offers a rich calendar of events, based on traditional festivals, fairs and pilgrimages, as well as a series of events of a sporting and cultural nature, with an international projection that annually attracts thousands of participants and fans, such as the Douro Music Festival Jazz, the Douro Half Marathon or the WTCC Championship.

Alto Douro Vinhateiro

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Venha conhecer o nosso quiosque online em www.micas.pt

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Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture The Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2004, covers a total area of 987 hectares. This well consists of an astonishing network of long stone walls erected to protect from the wind and sea water the vines, which are planted in lava fields.

The presence of the wine industry in the island of Pico had its beginning with the arrival of the settlers to the island in century XV. From that time on, the Pico Man began the Herculean task of planting vines on a rocky and apparently unproductive soil, as well as the construction of a reticulated wall that extended almost to the entire island. Over the centuries, a unique landscape has been built, with indelible reflections on the island’s socio-economy.

Aware of its importance, the Regional Government of the Azores proposed the classification of the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture as a protected area, being classified in 1996, through Regional Legislative Decree No. 12/96/A of 27 of June, as “Protected Landscape of Regional Interest of the Vineyard Culture of Pico Island”, in order to safeguard the natural, landscape and cultural values existing there, as well as to promote the sustainable development of the zone and the quality of life of the populations.

Subsequently, the landscape and historical-cultural value of the natural and built heritage of this Landscape, combined with its unique and universal character, led to the nomination of its most significant and well preserved areas to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, resulting in the inscription of the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, in July 2004, in the list of UNESCO World Heritage properties as Cultural Landscape, fulfilling criteria (iii) and (v).

The Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture - UNESCO World Heritage Site occupies a total area of ​​987 hectares, surrounded by a 1,924-hectare buffer zone. It is composed of a strip of territory that partially covers the north and south coasts and the west coast of the island, having as emblematic reference two sites, Lajido da Creação Velha and Lajido de Santa Luzia, implanted in extensive lava fields characterized by an extreme wealth and natural beauty and landscape. These sites were classified as excellent representations of the traditional architecture linked to the vineyard culture, landscape design and natural elements.

Associated with this landscape there are remarkable elements of biodiversity and geodiversity, with particular emphasis on the existence of endemic species of flora and fauna and Geospatial of the Azo-

res Geopark, UNESCO World Geopark.

This site consists of a network of long stone walls, spaced apart, that run parallel to the coast and penetrate towards the interior of the island. These walls were constructed to protect from the wind and sea water the vines, which are planted in thousands of small rectangular enclosures (corrals), glued to each other. The whole island is replete with walls of various dimensions and typologies, to its own application in traditional architecture, although its functionality and expression is emphasized in the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, or not the walls (by quantity, morphology, organization and alignment) the defining element of this landscape.

The cultivation of the vine, according to the original method, implied planting the bacelos in the crevices and holes of the lava fields and arranging the stone scattered throughout the soil. With intelligence and art, the picarot soon realized that the surplus stone would be a fundamental element that would ensure that the vines revenge in this rocky environment and beaten by the strong winds and the sea rossio, it would be enough for this

to build walls, ordering and heaping stones clearing the soil, and organizing the properties according to spaces that protected the plants, and created a favorable environment for the development of quality grapes.

With this classification, a set of rules was established through the creation of a management plan and a system of financial incentives, guaranteeing the rational management of natural and landscape resources and the development of actions aimed at safeguarding them, especially with regard to Landscape, geodiversity and biodiversity, allied to the safeguarding of the historical and traditional heritage of the area, as well as the promotion of an integrated landscape architecture.

By stimulating the rehabilitation of abandoned areas of vineyards, promoting their production through the traditional system, the area of production and the quality of the wine was increased, betting on the valorization of a product with unique characteristics, associating it with the notoriety of the place. With this new dynamics, the tourism activity was boosted, in particular the tourism of nature and wine tourism, through the creation of tourism units in rural areas, restaurants and tourism companies.

In 2004, the production area in the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture was about 120 hectares, estimated that in 2018, this area will be about 750 hectares, thus reversing the trend of abandonment of the Landscape, turning it into a living landscape, functioning as a driving force for the local economy.

Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

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