LIFE IP CLIMAZ participates in the Priolo Lands European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) Permanent Forum 2025

May 15, 2025

On 6 and 7 March, the 1st Sustainable Tourism Days of the Priolo Lands took place on the island of São Miguel, promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action (SRAAC), as part of the Priolo Lands European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) Forum.

In this context, the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning (DRRFOT) organised the visit entitled ‘The forest of the present and the future’, which brought together around 20 participants, including local businesspeople and tour operators. During the initiative, various activities developed within the framework of the action ‘Implementation of the São Miguel Forest Perimeter Management Plan’ were presented, particularly the LIFE IP CLIMAZ project.

This project aims to improve existing infrastructures, increasing the production capacity of endemic species, in response to the needs of the various nature conservation projects promoted in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The aim is also to convert areas invaded by alien species and grazing areas into natural forest areas, helping to strengthen the ecological corridors that are essential for preserving biodiversity.

The CETS represents a partnership between protected areas and the various players that play a relevant role in regional tourism development, intending to integrate sustainability principles into this sector. The Priolo Lands European Charter for Sustainable Tourism was awarded to the Priolo Lands in 2012 by the EUROPARC Federation - the European Federation of National and Nature Parks - in recognition of the good practices implemented to ensure sustainable tourism in protected areas, reconciling environmental, cultural, social and economic interests.

Considering that the Forest Perimeter and Regional Forests of São Miguel, under the management of the DRRFOT, occupies a significant part of the territory covered by the ‘Lands of Priolo’, this Regional Directorate was part of the local technical team from the outset, taking responsibility for implementing various actions aimed at promoting the municipalities of Povoação and Nordeste as a sustainable tourist destination.

Also, as part of this event, and in the presence of Engineer Nuno Sousa, Regional Director of DRRFOT, the Action Plan for 2024-2028 was presented after a speech by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel. A participatory diagnosis was also carried out with entrepreneurs, tour operators and local organisations, to assess the current situation and outline future prospects for the sustainable development of this territory.