Tourism and Biodiversity in Protected Areas 8th European Charter Network Meeting and Charter Awards (Brussels 6 november 2013) A multilevel strategy for tourism development at regional level The case of the Marche Region Alfredo Fermanelli Director of Protected Areas and N2000 Unit alfredo.fermanelli@regione.marche.it
At the border of the Empire «Mark» land of "border" of the empire of Carolus Magnus: Holy Roman Empire
Marche: the only italian region with a plural name 1.541.692 inhabitants 9.365,86 km 2 290.296 ha 31% 646.290 ha 69% Mountain Hill
Entrepreuneurship (2012 1 st quarter) Active companies each 1.000 inhabitants Sicilia Calabria Friuli Venezia Giulia Campania Lazio Puglia Lombardia Italia Sardegna Liguria Basilicata Veneto Umbria Piemonte Valle d'aosta Emilia Romagna Toscana Abruzzo Trentino Alto Adige Molise Marche 74,7 77,00 78,4 80,4 81,1 81,8 83,00 86,3 87,2 87,7 91,2 91,5 91,6 93,00 94,8 95,8 96,9 97,5 98,1 99,00 100,7 0 20 40 60 80 100
Life expetancy Longevity is a complex and positive penomenon, resulting from: life standards (e.g. environment) growth of a community 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 79 78 78 78 77
Italy in one Region 246 Municipalities with centers and historic towns of ancient tradition 240 libraries 300 historical archives 75 historic theaters 30,000 historic buildings cataloged More than 7,000 archaeological sites Thousands of churches and abbeys
Protected areas 2 National Parks 4 Regional Parks 6 Nature Reserves 80 Habitat sites 30 Bird sites
Parks are like People Are the most advanced form of nature conservation and of local microdevelopment Real guidance in the management of the Nature 2000 areas (e.g. agri-environmental agreements)
The value of tourism in protected areas 18.000.000 16.000.000 14.000.000 12.000.000 10.000.000 8.000.000 6.000.000 4.000.000 2.000.000 0 41,7% Arrivals 36,9% Presences Parks and Nat. Reserves Marche
The fragility Insufficient attention from the policy makers Scarcity of economic resources (continual cuts of national and regional funds) Limited operational and economic autonomy Fragmentation of responsibilities Limited differentiation in management models
ECST as a multilevel strategy To enhance the role and value of Parks: Local level Regional level
Advantages of a Regional vision and support Organization of the network to structure a coordinated marketing plan: parks need a critical mass to be known and to direct the demand in a sustainable way Have an external (regional) communication support to raise knowledge and greater communicative power Different managerial skills Diversification and increase of financial sources Greater Authority
ECST in tune with regional policies Catalyze change toward a sustainable tourism for the Marche region Design a regional offer aimed at specific sectors of the tourism market Support the local economy in an difficult economic context (development of tourism, labor and employment)
ECST and N2000 Golden eagle 19 factors of pressures and threats 6 factors are connected to tourism
Kentish Plover 13 factors of pressures and threats 10 factors are connected to tourism
A synergic action between ECST and PAF Some activities planned by the Action-Plans of the ECST, integrated with the analysis of pressures and threats on habitats and species, will become structural elements of the PAF An added value that comes directly from the participatory process carried out The reduction of impacts and threats through N2000 can lead to an increase in income also for tour operators (P.E.S.)
ECST and Agricolture Among the principles of the ECST: Encourage tourism linked to specific products will help to know and discover an area Increase the benefits from tourism in local economy Promote cultural and historical heritage
ECST and other strategies A close interrelationship: Nature 2000 Soft Mobility Ecological Network Green Infrastructure Agricolture Etc
2011: Preparation, institutional and Training course Dissemination of knowledge cultural involvement Identify contacts at regional and local levels to greater participation (during and after the ECST Strategy ) Preparing for next phase Structuring the ECST project as a Regional project in the framework of the three-year action plan for protected areas
The process 2011 Launched together with our Parks- System, Federparchi/Europarc Federation 2011/ 12: coordination of activities and development of ECST for each Park 2013: Certification
From special to structural project Today, the ECTS is a structural part of the new regional three-year financial planning tool for protected areas We provide specific funding for networkprojects and for each protected area included in the ECST Regional governement recognized a priority in the Structural Funds managed by the Marche Region
Regional priorities Bringing people and parks work together Develop cooperation programs between different protected areas (realization of paths, use of the parks logo for products at 0 km...) Assess the value of the touristic dynamics related to the environment Be active members of a european network of certified areas (sharing of experiences)
Positive effects at regional level Benefits for the efficiency of the Park System Positive influences for the regional community More national and international visibility
Local level Protect the values of the Park Comply with the requirements of socio-economic development of the local communities Increase the satisfaction degree of visitors Enhancing the role of local economic operators
Objectives to be pursued together Protection Promotion of Natural heritage Socioeconomic development Improvement quality life of inhabitants Positive visitor experience
The ECST as a fil rouge Ties the parks Influence, develops and extends its action in all the territory of the Region
CETS and the Marche region An important element: Integrated into the regional policies Promotes the change towards sustainability Produce effects not only in tourism but also in other sectors (Green infrastructure, Nature 2000 network, Soft mobility, etc...) Respects territory, citizens and economic operators
Only for parks? The ECST is in some way a tool to achieve a more comprehensive development of a territory A strategy, perhaps not only for parks: a base to develop an Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism Parks, once again, have been pioneers of a model of a real and possible development