Almeria's main natural park, the Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar, has been given the European Sustainable Tourism Charter. This means that the park has been included in the EUROPARC Federation list of 58 protected areas in seven European countries. The Charter commits signatories to implementing a local strategy for 'sustainable tourism' defined as: 'any form of development, management or tourist activity which ensures the long-term protection and preservation of natural, cultural and social resources and contributes in a positive and equitable manner to the economic development and well-being of individuals living, working or staying in protected areas.'
The EUROPARC Federation is a pan-European body formed by organisations dedicated to nature conservation in 38 countries that believes that the biological diversity of European cultural landscapes can only be permanently secured through a sustainable use.
One of the first tasks carried out in order to obtain the charter was the formation of a working group which will serve as a platform for debate on the management and development of the park. The group includes representatives of; the Junta de Andalucia, the respective ayuntamientos, the Almerian Levante Rural Development Group, the Andanatura Foundation and the Natural Park Tourist Services Businesspeople's Association.
The awarding of the charter will take place at the Europarc general meeting to be held next September in Romania.
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