Ornithological tourism in Macaronesia: a sustainable resource for rural areas and natural areas of the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, and Cape Verde

Informations

Funding country

Portugal

Acronym

MACAROAVES

URL

-

Start date

-

End date

-

Budget

89,525 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

Due to the significant natural value of Macaronesia and the large numbers of tourists who visit the region, the project aims to reconcile tourism with conservation, particularly of birds, promoting the rural development of the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde using their unique natural spaces and birdlife as tools. Ornithological tourism emerges as a product with added value in relation to the current ecotourism offer aimed at visitors to these archipelagos. In order to achieve this, a document on the planning and development of the activity will be drawn up, along with the chosen natural areas where demonstrations will be carried out, adapting and installing facilities for ornithological tourism (information boards, bird hides, etc.). There are also plans to train local guides to promote local ornithological tourism companies, and to improve knowledge of the natural environment and birds in sectors already involved in this type of tourism (nature guides, hotel industry, managers, etc.). Therefore, the aim more generally is to promote ornithological tourism as a complementary resource which respects the environment. General Objective: to develop activities which reconcile tourism with environmental conservation, especially of the birds of Macaronesia, promoting rural development on its islands by taking advantage of their unique natural spaces and birdlife. Specific Objective 1. To develop an ornithological tourism strategy for Macaronesia, which will establish, plan and develop a series of measures and actions to promote sustainable tourism, taking into account the specific features of each archipelago. Specific Objective 2. To identify natural spaces in each archipelago which display potential for ornithological tourism, selecting areas to implement resources and support facilities for this type of tourism. Specific Objective 3. To promote ornithological tourism as a complementary resource for tourists visiting Macaronesia, while simultaneously transforming it into a resource for respecting the environment. Specific Objective 4. To train local guides to promote and support the creation of ornithological tourism companies, and to promote environmental training in sectors involved in this type of tourism, such as the hotel industry, nature guides, environmental managers, etc.