Information Seminar on the Charter in Brussels

Over 60 participants followed the invitation from the EUROPARC Federation to an Information Seminar on the European Charter on the 9th of December in the representation of the Euro region Alpes Méditerranée in Brussels. 58 protected areas from seven countries across Europe are committed to sustainable tourism – says the EUROPARC
Federation to an audience of representatives from the EU Commission, regions of Europe and other organisations. The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism was promoted in Brussels as a model and tool to sustain rural areas through these changing and challenging times.

Tried and tested over 10 years the “Charter” has been adopted by most Western European countries as a mechanism to bring together the previously suspicious tourism industry and environmentalists. Working together towards a common goal to manage the precious natural resources and landscapes that sustain the live hoods of small tourism related businesses in and around protected areas, 61 Million visitors are made to “Charter awarded “ protected areas with many more seeking Charter status. This more sustainable investment injects 55 Million Euros into these rural economies over 3 years. At the same time the Charter areas 4,6 Mio ha including over 50% of Natura2000 sites where the Charter helps making the link between tourism and the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the regions.

The seminar took place in the framework of the EUROPARC project European CharterNet which is supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds from the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Many of the regions of Europe from Zeeland in the Netherlands to Thessaloniki in Greece enjoyed the hospitality of the Euro region Alpes Méditerranée (itself a strong advocate of the Charter for the protected areas in its regions), and heard from the Charter areas of Luberon (F), Harz (D), Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa (E) and Alpi Marittime (I) and their positive experiences of adopting the Charter principles with their local communities.

The successful European Charter for Sustainable Tourism information day ended with many expressions of interest and commitment to ensuring ecology and economics in protected areas are closely linked and co- planned.

Presentations (see download area):

• Barbara Engels, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation: Sustainable Tourism & Biodiversity
• Richard Partington, Natural England: Joining Forces: The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas
• Paulo Castro, Ponto Natura, Lasse Loven, Metsähallitus: Sustainable tourism development: The ECST in "magic numbers"
• Jacques Decuignières, ADE: Cycling tourism in the Luberon regional nature park
• Josep Maria Prats, Zona Volcánica de la Garrotxa Nature Park, Frank Steingass, Harz National Park: How does the Charter involve local tourism businesses?
• Patrizia Rossi, Alpi Marittime Nature Park: What are the benefits from the Charter?