Catalogue of successful business experiences in biosphere reserves.
Index INTRODUCTION 4 TERRITORY POTENTIALITIES TERRITORY NEEDS TERRITORY RESOURCES
5 5 5
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EXPERIENCES
7
RENEWABLE ENERGIES 7 Gorona del Viento wind power plant 7 Lanjarón Health Resort 9 Bioallarluz biomass plant 10 Escuaín, solar village (photovoltaic microcentral) 10 Huerta Solar 11 FARMING AND AGRICULTURE 12 Development of high-end products 12 Da Terra do País 12 Reselva – Campeche honey 13 Healthy and functional foods 13 Castañas dos Ancares 14 Margarida Rossa 14 AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY 15 Development of high-end products 15 Casa Naveira, bread and sweets to combine with milk farming 15 ACastrexa 16 Conservas Senra 16 Petelo - Chestnut Derivatives 17 Food development for specific population segments Vega Mayor – Florette Carabuñas – Preserves and spirits C. E. E. Destiladera S. L.
18 18 18 19
COSMETIC INDUSTRY 20 Natural ecosystems entrepreneurial exploitation 20 Aromas do Valado 20 Xcanan 21 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 22 Adventure tourism 23 Tirolina Valle de Tena S.L. 23 Experience tourism Water Land La Raíz del Futuro Murias Chongas S.L. Feynan Ecolodge
24 24 24 25 25
Valuing cultural heritage Aldea da Fraga Entrelenguas: from school to cultural immersion center
26 26 27
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
GREEN AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY Circular economy in practice Cooperativa de Valorização dos Resíduos
28 28 28
Nature Conservation Banks Dehesa del Guijo
29 29
ORGANIZATION OF SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES 30 Technology at the service of local communities Sende: a rural haven with internet Extreme Bárdenas
30 30 31
CRAFTS 31 Valuing cultural heritage 31 Taller Idoia Cuesta 31 Taller de Xaneco 32 Pepa de Bonxe 33 GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES
34
Energy generation and savings Good practice: Efficient use of biomass in Cabrillanes Good practice: Parque Eólico Experimental Sotavento Good practice: Coexistence between wind farms and birdlife Good practice: Energy planning Good practice: Efficiency as an energy sustainability cornerstone
34 35 35 35 36 36
Boost to primary sectors Good practice: PASTOR project Good practice: Value truffle and mycological tourism Good practice: Hortas d´Idanha Good practice: Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves network of beekeepers Good practice: Public pasture use contracts Good practice: Agricultural biodiversity recovery Good practice: Developing hops
37 37 38 38 38 39 39 39
Boosting the sustainable tourism sector Good practice: Tourism based on the local community Good practice: Renovarte. Sobrarbe Art and Heritage
40 40 41
Cultural ethnographic heritage Good practice: Architectural Use of Wood natural resources Good practice: Recovery of thatched houses
42 42 42
Green information and marketing tools Good practice: Free electric vehicles to discover nature parks Good practice: Andalusia boosts sustainable mobility on tourist routes Good practice: Itinerant exhibition “SOMOS BIOSFERA, SOMOS GRAN CANARIA”
43 43 43 44
Participatory planning Good practice: Territory Custody and Ecotourism Good practice: Territory Custody Agreement Good practice: Scotland’s support for the social economy Good practice: Association of Nature Conservation Banks Good practice: Biosphere Reserves Venture Capital
44 44 45 45 46 46
Provincial Government of Cáceres
Introduction The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter UNESCO) can be considered a pioneer of the official movement for the environmental protection and the reinvention of sustainability (even before minting the concept of sustainable development), as well as the linkage of the phenomenon of decreasing biodiversity with human development. The initiative in this regard is articulated in the figure of the Biosphere Reserve, which goes beyond the natural values conservation of the declared space, to consider values and uses of traditional human occupation that can serve as a pilar for the promotion of sustainable territorial development. The weight given to this parameter distances the Biosphere Reserves from other conservation figures and gives them a growing interest in the years after their definition, in which sustainability is already considered not only by ecological criteria, but also economic and social. On 18 March 2016, The Tejo-Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve was declared by UNESCO, covering an area of 428,176 ha. in the western region of the Iberian Peninsula and being shared between Spain and Portugal. It comprises 14 Spanish municipalities of the province of Cáceres and 12 Portuguese Parish, which are located in a vast territory of steep relief, but without high altitudes, constituting the Tagus/Tejo river its backbone. It houses in its interior other protected areas such as the Tajo Internacional Natural Park, the Regional Interest Area of Sierra de San Pedro, several ZEPAS (Special Protection Areas for Birds) and ZEC’s (Special Conservation Areas), forming part of the Natura 2000 Network.
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To enhance the development of economic activities in the territory of the Reserve, the Provincial Government of Cáceres has developed this catalogue, which is conceived as a manual of good business practices, sustainable and adaptable to the territory of the Reserve. It is a text of consultation in which entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs can find examples of companies already existing in other biosphere reserves, which can serve as an inspiration for the implementation of their business projects. It also serves to provide economic development agents operating in the territory to have material to spread the entrepreneurial culture and demonstrate that “yes you can”, that the area has great potential and that it is possible to develop profitable businesses in it. In this sense, one of the main objectives of this study is to show, through different business initiatives carried out in other Biosphere reserves, how the potentialities of the territory can be translated into business opportunities available for potential entrepreneurial projects. To carry out the work, a comprehensive research of news and publications related to the economic sectors to be included in the catalogue was developed and specific sources related to “Biosphere Reserves” were located, thoroughly reviewing the history of the publications available in them. Not all the experiences and best practices detected in this research work are included into the catalogue as their volume would be excessive, having been selected those ones that are among the most original and potentially profitable.
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Territory potentialities Territory potentialities can be defined as anything that can be activated and that may be capable of boosting local economies and improving the populations development levels where they are located. For this analysis, applied to the Tejo-Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, the local development agents operating in the territory collaboration has been taken into account, classifying the potentialities into two large groups: 1.- Needs of the territory, which may lead to actions that, with internal or external resources, will cover these needs. 2.- Resources of the territory, which can be used to create products and / or services capable of acceptance outside the territory and, with it, to generate added value and wealth.
Provincial Government of Cáceres
Territory needs The following have been inventoried: • Improve communications: train, road, secondary network, ... • Hospital. • Improve territory residents skills. • Tourist and hotel infrastructures. • Retain the young population.
Territory resources The following have been inventoried: • Transboundary character. Close to Lisbon. • Large tracts of land available. • Tranquility and standard of living. • Affordable and available housing. • Abundant natural, cultural and historical heritage. On many occasions, without exploitation. • Traditional and ecological agriculture, which provides quality food products. • Good coverage in health services. • Good conditions for photovoltaic energy production.
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Agriculture, livestock and food production. In the territory there are food companies which commercialize singular products. Existing farms can be added to the production of photovoltaic energy on a self-consumption basis, to reduce costs and access to the other agricultural crops that could require high energy and water consumption, such as cannabis, once their production be legalized.
The existing territorial resources, adequately used, can lead to the development of relevant activity sectors, which, in turn, can reach attractive levels of economic performance, both for foreign investment and for entrepreneurial projects carried out by native people. Among the sectors with the greatest potential to develop are: Energy. The territory, thanks to the sunshine hours available, presents good characteristics for the location of photovoltaic energy production facilities, both for self-consumption and for grids connection. This energy, combined with the hydroelectric use of available water resources, can provide the territory population centers of the territory with independence energy level that allows them to attract population and talent. 6
Nature Conservation Banks. Like all protected areas Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve is a valid place for the development of nature conservation banks, a figure which, although provided for Ambiental Protection Spanish Law, still requires regulatory development for its expansion. Tourism. In the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve there are important natural, historical and monumental resources that still stay far from the massification in the most characteristic tourist areas. All this heritage wealth can be used to build an offer of integrated packages that, without falling into the massification, can offer differentiated alternatives for the enjoyment of sustainable activities, close to nature and in a multicultural environment, border between two close but different countries, with two languages and two different cultures. Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Successful business experiences Renewable energies Our ambition in the renewable energy use should double by 2030 around the world if we are to struggle climate change effectively. This is said by a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), which was be presented at COP25 in Madrid. By that year we should have 7,700 GW of installed power, while with the current compromises we would not exceed 3,200 GW.
Gorona del Viento wind power plant El Hierro The utopia of living using only renewable energies becomes a reality on El Hierro Canary Island thanks to the Gorona del Viento wind power plant project, which in June 2019 served five years in operation. Gorona del Viento has a wind Provincial Government of Cรกceres
farm made up of five wind turbines that supply light to the island during day and night. The wind surplus that is not consumed by the nearly 8,000 inhabitants living in 7
El Hierro is used to pump water from a lower reservoir, located on the coast, to an upper one, located on a volcanic cone 655 meters high. This water is accumulated in the upper part and, when there is a shortage of wind, it is released to generate electricity and meet the demand. Currently Gorona del Viento company – which is owned 65.82% by the Cabildo de El Hierro, 23.21% by the power company Endesa, 7.74% by the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias and 3.23% by the Government of the Canary Islands – receives around four million euros of remuneration. In the first years of its life it received twice as much, 12 million, but in 2017 the state decided to cut premiums. Despite lower incomes, Gorona del Viento is today a healthy company, with a net worth that almost triples to the share capital. Launched with an investment of 82 million euros, of which Spanish State contributed 35 million, the
company has covered the entire debt and even starts to pay dividends. El Hierro example shows how living using only renewable energies utopia begins to be real. In the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve, wind is not an excessively abundant resource, but the sun is, to which we can add the existence of large tracts of land. Photovoltaic facilities covering 100% of the needs of the territory may seem like a utopia at present, but it will be less so if one of the most differential characteristics of authentically entrepreneurial people is applied: perseverance. Creation Year: 2004
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
7.209.214,00 €
8,00
1.934.213,00 €
30.936.736,00 €
83.682.575,00 €
More information: http://www.goronadelviento.es/en/
Economic Data (2018 Year)
Lanjarón Health Resort Sierra Nevada The emblematic Lanjarón SPA joins the fight against climate change with a first solar energy installation. This was the first step in the goal of eliminate the two 700 kW oil boilers in the complex. In this first stage a 33% energy coverage was achieved, allowing to halve the diesel consumption. The energy renewal strategy was completed in a second stage with a state-of-the-art and high efficiency energy biomass boiler with 500 kW power. This intervention has contributed to fully meet the thermal complex needs and finally eliminate diesel use. The emissions avoided
in this action are 200 CO2 tons per year. Both the solar panels and the biomass boiler also allow the four-star hotel annexed to Lanjarón complex to be supplied with green energy. In addition, the hotel has its own installation of 300 m2 photovoltaic panels with 25 kWp capacity. Creation year: 1998
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
5.245.877,00 €
60,00
193.901,00 €
60.101,00 €
127.585,00 €
More information: https://www.balneariodelanjaron.es/balneario-de-lanjaron---en
8
Provincial Government of Cáceres
Economic Data (2018 Year)
9
Bioallarluz biomass plant Allariz It is the only facility of its kind operating in Galicia with primary forest biomass and pioneer of the sector in Spain. It has an installed power 2.35 MW. It performs R+D related tests on combustion with different types of biomass, possibilities of thermal exploitation for cogeneration, and combustion ash recovery as a forest fertilizer.
Biomass energy exploitation mass is another renewable energy source that can contribute to the long-term goal of achieving energy needs with 100% renewable energy. In the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve there are forestry farms and land that can provide the necessary raw material. Creation year: 1998
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
3.662.877,00 €
20,00
-192.355,00 €
100.000,00 €
723.362,00 € Economic data (2018 Year)
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 69
Escuaín, aldea solar (microcentral fotovoltaica) Ordesa-Viñamala Electrification is based on a photovoltaic microgrid to supply electrical power in AC power through a mini distribution network. It is calculated to supply power to 15 users. The initial supply was oriented to six houses, a hostel, a National Park information center, the village public lighting and a weather station. The installation consists of 120 photovoltaic panels (10.2 kWp), located on a building of about 70 m2, designed to obtain maximum integration into the natural and architectural environment of the village. The building, made of stone, also houses electrical energy regulation, control and transformation equipment,
Huerta Solar Bárdenas Reales de Navarra Huerta Solar is a cooperative project, which 859 owners, including individual, citizens, families, societies, councils, valley associations and even the Biosphere Reserve itself, have built a 50-ha photovoltaic park that houses 1,378 units of solar trackers to produce 16.95 GWh/year, equivalent to 7,705 homes average consumption. Huerta Solar is exploited as a owners community and generates income and jobs in the territory.
Navarra produces photovoltaic energy for sale through existing electricity distribution networks. In the distant year of its foundation, it was almost the only existing alternative. The production obtained in Huerta Solar shows that photovoltaic self-consumption is not an unrealizable utopia, especially in areas with availability of land and abundance of sunshine hours as the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve. Creation Year: 2006
Unlike previous cases, mainly oriented to self-consumption, Huerta Solar de las Bárdenas Reales de TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
316.930,00 €
2,00
-19.272,00 €
223.000,00 €
221.164,00 € Economic Data (2018 Year)
as well as batteries and an auxiliary generator set powered by propane gas, which ensures the supply in case of damage of the photovoltaic system or under exceptional weather conditions.
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 65
In Escuaín 100% energy independence have been achieved with sustainable sources, paving the way that can be taken in other locations, including all that belong to the Tajo International Biosphere Reserve territory. Creation Year: not available Economic data: not availables
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 71
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Business experiences in biosphere reserves
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Reselva – Campeche honey México - Calakmul
Farming and agriculture
100% natural honey harvested, packaged and marketed by 53 producers from 10 Calakmul communities; honey is a product of the multiflora of the region, whose combination generates unique aromas and exquisite flavors that will allow your senses to remember what is natural. These products are managed to health and safety standards to preserve the honey purity. The company has the Calakmul Collective Seal Sustainability Certificate.
Development of high-end products Gastronomy has got remarkable importance especially in recent years. Currently gourmet products are part of our purchase and shows that practically all supermarkets have a gourmet space where you can find premium food and drinks, which offer a quality plus to consumers, without forgetting the proliferation of gastronomic shops. This market development is facilitated by marketing and distribution capabilities through the internet and by the technologies of food preservation, which allow, for example, the presence on the market of highly valued local preparations.
Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://selvamaya.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FS_Selva-Maya_Honey_EN_A4_20181218.pdf
Healthy and functional foods. In recent years, food companies have expanded their objectives and areas of activity to offer healthier products, based on personalized nutrition, even designed to improve the quality of life or the health of consumers. Now we are looking for more natural and healthy products, surprising and new at the same time. Innovation in this field is continuous. Reports and studies are constant-
Da Terra do País Reserva Mariñas-Betanzos Galician potatoes, kennebec, the white Galician variety used with octopus, “grelos” (Tender bud of turnip stems) and Chata do Miño onions (a local variety), are the products that cultivate, package and distribute Da terra do País. Betting on a model of its own, it currently has 30 hectares of crop, they have won an award for their work against the land abandonment, which have returned to the agricultural landscape and when people go to the beach and see it is beautiful. Generates employment; It has a fixed half and half seasonal staff, ranging from 10 to 30 people, and grows a conventional part with integrated system with exclusive use of plant protection products in a curative way, when there is a problem, and another part in ecological.
The honey production with differentiation and quality criteria in areas whose natural wealth, such as that existing at International Tajo Biosphere Reserve, guarantees varieties diversity and, therefore, flavors, is an activity that can become very profitable, since it can be commercialized at prices significantly higher than those of honey with undifferentiated characteristics.
ly appearing that identify new product launch with greater or lesser acceptance success. For the agri-food sector, it is a great opportunity to conquer new markets. But, to achieve this it becomes necessary to bet on product innovation, both in ingredients, production processes, recipe or packaging.
Da Terra do País shows that agricultural production can be profitable when focused on business criteria and production is market-oriented. Kennebec potato production is not extrapolated to the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve, but it may be other crop adaptable to the characteristics of the Reserve. Creation Year: 2011
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
787.921,00 €
1,00
15.587,00 €
5.466,00 €
196.368,00 € Economic Data (2016 year)
More information: https://www.larazon.es/atusalud/medioambiente/reserva-de-la-biosfera-espanola-tres-empresas-gallegas-primeras-en-obtener-el-sello-de-espacio-protegido-BP20495958 12
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
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Agri-food industry
Castañas dos Ancares Reserva Ancares lucenses Luis Miguel and Alejandro Lolo Bardasco are two young men of the Ancares decided and with clear ideas and in just five years managed to run a powerful corporation that this year will process and sell a million and a half kilos of chestnuts. Instead of emigrating like many other young people of their age, Luis Miguel y Alejandro, born in Pedrafita do Cebreiro, decided in 2012 to stay in the region of the Ancares and live its potential, with honey and chestnuts as a spearhead. They are convinced that there is a future in the agroecology.
Honey and chestnuts are two products appreciated and valued by consumers, whose exploitation can be very profitable in areas where native flora logging and conservation, as happens in the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve, allow differential qualities. Creation Year: 2015
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
2.771.583,00 €
8,00
2.971,00 €
19.020,00 €
480.292,00 € Economic Data (2018 Year)
The premium product has managed to establish itself in the shopping cart. Spaniards spent 2.4% more in the shopping cart in 2019, compared to the previous year. This increase was caused by the purchase of more expensive products. In fact, the volume fell 0.3%. The average price paid for packaged products was 1.8% higher than in 2018, 1.6% corresponding to the incorporation of products with higher added value. In addition, the packaging is also consolidated as a differential resource to provide greater value. The target that manufacturers have focused most is the adult, with the highest purchasing power.
More information: http://www.campogalego.com/forestal/temos-os-montes-inzados-de-moedas-de-centimo-de-euro-que-non-apanamos/
Casa Naveira, bread and sweets to combine with milk farming Mariñas-Betanzos
Margarida Rossa Reserva Tajo Internacional
To speak of Casa Naveira 1914, is to speak of a craftsman oven that David Ares’ grandparents already worked in the early century... It is a TRADITIONAL GALICIAN BAKERY, an oven that was generously shared with its neighbors of the place of Costoia, a small village of Sobrado dos Monxes. Over the years the furnace fell into disuse, because the family’s efforts focused on a dairy farm... But the fall in milk prices makes Casa Naveira reinvent itself again and the better way to do it was by rehabilitating the little treasure that was in their house... The traditional oven...
Margarida Rossa produces totally in biological mode, emphasizing that this region has a fabulous climate for horticultural production, with heat and a lot of water available. The production is sold through Hortas D’Idanha and, also, directly in the region itself. They grow watermelon, melon, cucumber, eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin and, most recently, aromatic herbs. They also plan to grow apples and lemons.
Another example illustrating the differential characteristics that the territory included in the Tajo International Biosphere Reserve offers for specialized crops. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://www.vidarural.pt/destaques/quando-a-agricultura-e-a-opcao/ 14
Development of high-end products
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
As with many other products, artisan bread has been losing space to industrial bread, which is more convenient and cheaper. But, of course, losing flavor and nutritious properties, which leaves spaces for niche markets where artisan bread can be repositioned, both in Galicia and in the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://www.campogalego.com/desenvolvemento-rural/casa-naveira-pan-e-doces-para-compaxinar-coa-ganderia-de-leite/ Provincial Government of Cáceres
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ACastrexa Mariñas-Betanzos From close proximity come the raw materials that in Cambre become some of the most original and sustainable vegetable jams and conserves in the region. In her work of Os Campóns, Paula Patiño prepares and distributes the products of A Castrexa, the first with the quality seal of the Mariñas Coruñesas and Terras do Mandeo biosphere reserve that are sold online. Wine jam ‘branco lexítimo’ even from peas of local varieties “very difficult to find”, in addition to juices or pumpkin creams, integrate the offer of this company.
Originality and specialized and differentiated products have their space in today’s food markets, where a significant portion of consumers are willing to value these differential characteristics. Each territory, among which can fit the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve has its possibilities, based on the typical gastronomy of the area and traditional agricultural and livestock productions. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: https://www.larazon.es/atusalud/medioambiente/reserva-de-la-biosfera-espanola-tres-empresas-gallegas-primeras-en-obtener-el-sello-de-espacio-protegido-BP20495958 Conservas Senra Doñana Located in the Biosphere Reserve of Doñaña, Conservas Senra, S.L. crafts Sanlucar stews that, vacuum packed, are marketed in delicatessen specialized establishments. Production is limited, as quality is strictly controlled throughout the production and distribution process.
Petelo - Chestnut Derivatives Allariz Local business devoted to get value from the chestnuts of the area with by-products such as chestnut flour, pylong chestnuts and chestnut brise. From the chestnut flour, biscuits, muffins and other specialties are made. The process is entirely handcrafted; the chestnuts, hand-selected, are dried in the “canizo” of the Allariz biosphere reserve and then ground in a stone mill. The two brother owners work on the farm; they also develop actions to promote chestnut trees repopulation in the biosphere reserve. 1 Board
Another example of chestnut harvesting, a forest resource that, where it exists, is cared for and rationally exploited provides interesting economic returns. There are also opportunities to take advantage of chestnut and other products derived from forestry farms in the Tejo/Tajo International Biosphere Reserve. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
and stick structure. In this case, specifically intended for drying chestnuts.
More information: http://www.lanzarotebiosfera.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/INFORME-EC-SOCIAL-2016Rev.pdf Page 27
An example similar to the previous of culinary heritage use at a protected area. In the Tejo/ Tajo International Biosphere Reserve it will not be possible to cook and pack “chocos”, but may be other products and elaborations typical of the territory. Creation Year: 2019
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
NOT AVAILABLE
NOT AVAILABLE
NOT AVAILABLE
3.000,00 €
NOT AVAILABLE
More information: http://www.conservasenra.es/
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Food development for specific population segments Thera are differentiated markets for other groups with specific feeding requirements, prescribed by religion, for example, halal feeding; lifestyles, for example, vegan and vegetarian products or simply by the personal tastes and preferences of consumers and adaptation to their lifestyle habits. Vega Mayor – Florette Bárdenas Reales Vega Mayor was established in 1988 in a municipality of Navarra, the result of the entrepreneurial spirit of Juan Miguel Floristán and José Javier Muguerza, which led to the introduction for the first time at national level of a new category of product: packaged salads, selected, washed, cut and ready to consume, of which it produces 600,000 bags a day. In 2001 it changed its name from Vega Mayor to Florette. In 2015 the sixth production center was open, located in Arguedas (Navarra).
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
35.718,00 €
1,00
1.062,00 €
3.009,00 €
6.222,00 €
C. E. E. Destiladera S. L. La Palma
Vega Mayor, today a consolidated company with an important presence in great consumption linear supermarkets, is an example of the potential that treasures the combination of a well-managed agriculture and a commercialization focused to meeting the nascent consumers’ needs. In the biosphere reserves can also be developed large companies such as Vega Mayor, oriented to a rational production, sustainable and able to bring value to customers. Creation Year: 2000
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
178.727.000,00 €
424,00
10.924.000,00 €
NOT AVAILABLE
NOT AVAILABLE Economic Data (2018 Year)
More information: https://www.innovagri.es/comunidad/cultivos-protegidos-para-ensaladas-listas-para-consumir.html
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INCOME STATEMENT
Economic Data (2018 Year)
NUMBER JOBS
Veigas de Sabugueiro, S.L., the company that markets the Carabuñas brand, produce by hand in a small workshop located in the place of Sanguiñedo in the village of Vilar de Santos (Ourense) spirits, jams and other preserves whose main ingredient is elderberries. Elderflower is attributed medicinal properties, justified by its use in traditional medicine. It is used to solve nervous system problems, such as spasms, seizures, tremors... And it is a good diuretic when it comes to keeping the organism clean, because, among other properties, its berries are purgative. Externally juice
NUMBER JOBS
More information: http://www.lanzarotebiosfera.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/INFORME-EC-SOCIAL-2016Rev.pdf Page 28
TURNOVER
Carabuñas – Preserves and spirits. Allariz
TURNOVER
Destiladera S.L., is a public company, promoted by the City Council of the Villa de Breña Alta. It is the first Special Employment Centre to be established in the island of La Palma in September 1998. It began its journey with a single tobacco-related activity. Today, many more complete its range of services and solutions. This social enterprise is accepted to the brand of the Biosphere Reserve in almost all its products that are: “mojo” (a local sauce), spirits, cigars, palm pepper, honey... In addition to these products they offer other services and activities such as: pepper cultivation, cleaning of gardens and orchards.
This case shows that it is also possible to combine the needs of the population with special capacities with the economic exploitation of the resources available in a biosphere reserve. In La Palma it was tobacco, then supplemented with other products. In Tajo Internacional it could be any other sustainable production, without discarding cannabis, on which there are multimillion-dollar expectations and from which legalization may occur in a relatively short time. Creation Year: 1998
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
457.937,00 €
22,00
-2.676,00 €
3.005,00 €
115.847,00 € Economic Data (2018 Year)
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Reserva%20Mundial%20de%20la%20Biosfera%20de%20La%20Palma_tcm30-169762.pdf
application has disinfectant and regenerating power of the tissues, so it is indicated for skin problems. The flowers infusion flowers have expectorant properties. The natural richness accumulated in the biosphere reserves allows biohealthy products that, without reaching their classification as pharmaceuticals, can take advantage of the medicinal characteristics of traditional botany. Creation Year: 2005
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Cosmetic industry Natural ecosystems entrepreneurial exploitation It has been estimated that by 2050, the business opportunities linked to biodiversity and the ecosystem services that depend on it could represent an overall value of between US$0.8 and US$2.3 trillion per year. In practice, however, the value of biodiversity is only just beginning to be accounted at operational level in decision-making. If we want to preserve biodiversity, taking it into consideration must become common practice. The two examples that follow show that the environmental and natural wealth conserved in the biodiversity of biosphere reserves can be subject to rational and sustainable economic exploitation. Aromas do Valado Reserva Tajo Internacional It is a pleasure for the senses to visit Aromas do Valado. In all the rooms, highlighting distillery, you can feel plants aromas the company, installed in a fifth at the entrance of the village of Segura, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, produces, distills, transforms and commercialices into hygiene and cosmetic products. Aromas of jar, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and citronella, all of them from their own biological production, from partner producers and from the Geopark Natur-
tejo. Aromas do Valado is allowed to operate in the Naturtejo Geopark, since, in the case of jar and eucalyptus, it helps to clean the natural park, by using rubbish cleaning waste. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
Más información: http://www.aromasdovalado.com/en 20
Xcanan México - Calakmul It is a women entrepreneur group who every day take advantage of their knowledge of herbalism and the nutritive and healing properties of flowers and fruits. Based on this knowledge, micro-entrepreneurs produce honey-based products and herbal, floral and fruit extracts from various species, including aloe, chamomile, rosemary, orange, cinnamon, anise, vanilla,
rose petals, pepper and mint. Xcanan has a variety of products including shampoo, bar soaps, liquid soaps, perfumes and lotions, rose water, vanilla water, rosemary water, insect repellent, antibacterial gel, ointments and medicinal microdoses. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://selvamaya.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CATALOGO_Final_Light-1.pdf Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Sustainable tourism Tourism is a sector with great capacity for growth in biosphere reserves, as it has differential possibilities to develop a quality offer. Among them: • New tourist sites in a framework of nature of great value and attractiveness. • Wide variety of potentially usable resources, both with historical value and in nature envi ronments. • Entrepreneurial options for small local initiatives that bring strength and diversity to the complementary offer package. • Important water resources that must be protected and developed with sustainability criteria. • Existence of quality agri-food products, which must contribute to the knowledge and attractiveness of the area. Tourism is currently an activity with high environmental impact and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to UN in 2017, the carbon footprint of this sector was up to 8% of total global emissions. In the same year, tourism generated around 10% of total global GDP and grew significantly from other economic sectors. There are diversification and/or niche trends in today’s tourism that can be used to generate economic activity in the International Tajos Biosphere Reserve:
Adventure tourism Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing subsectors of the tourism sector, attracting high-value customers, strengthening support to local economies and promoting the development of sustainable practices. Thus, the continued growth of this sector generates net positive effects not only for tourism, but for the destination economies, their people and their environment. Demand for adventure tourism is on the rise as disposable income and consumer interest also grow in participating in personalized and transformative events (i.e. significant, changing perspectives). Thus, more people can enjoy holidays, with a greater number of them opting to Tirolina Valle de Tena S.L. Reserva Biosfera Ordesa-Viñamala España Zip line is located in the municipality of Hoz de Jaca, in the heart of the Tena Valley (Aragonese Pyrenees). Hoz de Jaca, with its 1,270 meters of altitude, hanging over the bog of Búbal is a balcony over its waters. From the viewpoint that is located in the urban center you can see practically the entire Valley, being also the attraction starting point. After descending, you cross a forest path to access an all-terrain vehicle where you return to the starting point. It is a double zip
experience the destinations from their own point of view. As these are innovative and innovative activities, the development of supply also stimulates demand, often latent until it discovers a certain initiative that arouses interest. The barriers to entry into adventure tourism are relatively low, so the trend being that companies already established in the tourism sector incorporate proposals of experience in their product portfolios, there is an important room for collaboration between new business initiatives and consolidated firms.
line, that is, it has two descent cables, in which 950 meters are covered at speeds close to 90 km/h. This initiative, which shows interesting viability parameters, is directly transferable to the characteristics of the territory of the International Tagus Biosphere Reserve, since in both places there is water, mountain and swamps. Creation Year: 2012
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
359.262,00 €
5,00
17.962,00 €
3.010,00 €
67.966,00 € Economic Data (2018 Year)
More information: http://tirolinavalledetena.com/la-tirolina-doble-mas-larga-de-europa/
22
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Experience tourism It has called “experienced-based tourism” that tourism that proposes a deep immersion of the traveler in the local environment, providing him with unique “experiences” that acquire their maximum expression when combined with locals landscapes, customs, products, ..., in which tourists become protagonists, playing an active role. In this definition, the difference between experience tourism and traditional tourism lies in that active and personalized role that the tourist consciously and voluntarily adopts, around which it is to be defined the tourist product, at the same time integrator and personalized. The key to differentiation lies in authenticity, in the incorporation of Water Land Reserva Biosfera Redes Tierra del Agua is a boutique hotel located in the Asturian village of Caleao, in the heart of the biosphere reserve of the Redes Natural Park. Consolidated as a quality rural accommodation, its managers want to go one step further TURNOVER 509.549,00 €
NUMBER JOBS 10,00
indigenous elements of difficult imitation, for example, gastronomy and contact with local inhabitants, which can be combined to provoke in visitors sensory impulses, different from those to which they are accustomed in their daily life and that can be associated with an emotion, which persists in time beyond the duration of the “designed experience”. The four initiatives presented as examples show that tourism, adequately managed with resident population social bases, is a sustainable and employment-generating economic activity.
and attract business-based tourism, focusing on companies that want to carry out teambuilding activities, meetings, business events or product presentations among other possibilities.
SOCIAL CAPITAL
30.024,00 €
24.000,00 €
890.551,00 € Economic Data (2018 Year)
and corn are grown and melipona honey is produced. Environmental education and crafting workshops such as scented candles, baskets and piñatas are also offered. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://selvamaya.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CATALOGO_Final_Light-1.pdf Page 68 24
social and environmental value. The kind of the company is a working society in which the members have the same degree of participation, therefore a model of democratic and participative management. Creation Year: 1998
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
27.122,00 €
2,00
-840,00 €
3.005,00 €
2.998,00 €
NET EQUITY
More information: https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/efeemprende/tierra-del-agua-turismo-de-negocios-en-una-reserva-la-biosfera-asturiana/50000911-2877973
La Raíz del Futuro is a community company composed of tzeltal indigenous people, from Chiapas, but established in the Calakmul region. It offers ecotourism services, i.e., it provides the opportunity to stay and carry out activities in Mayan Forest heart, experiencing the fusion of biodiversity with tzeltal culture. In addition, in La Raíz del Futuro you can hike with nature guides, observe region flora and fauna, visit areas where pepper
Company devoted to provide information work in the Natural Park and the Somiedo biosphere reserve. It is a company promoted by biosphere reserve women residents to provide information service and assistance in the visitor reception facilities on reservation resources. It is an active local employment initiative, which generates both
Creation Year: 2007
INCOME STATEMENT
La Raíz del Futuro México - Calakmul
Murias Chongas S.L Somiedo
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Economic Data (2012 Year)
More information: http://www.lanzarotebiosfera.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/INFORME-EC-SOCIAL-2016Rev.pdf Page 39 Feynan Ecolodge Jordania - Dana Designed by Ammar Khammash famous architect, the Feynan Ecolodge is one of the flagships of the Jordanian company EcoHotels whose accommodations are distinguished by practicing responsible ecotourism and whose philosophy focuses on three pillars: contribute to natural environment preservation, cause the least possible environmental impact and provide socio-economic benefits to local population. Specifically, the operation of the Feynan Ecolodge allows around 90 families (about 450 people) to have an additional income source. This is possible because all
the staff are part of the Bedouin communities living in the Dana Biosphere Reserve. From drivers covering the 8 kilometers distance the entrance to the complex from the paved road in their own vans, to the women who make all the sails that light it up every night. Same is true for food supply from nearby villages. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: https://ecohotels.me/Feynan
Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Valuing cultural heritage Each of the cultural assets existing in a territory also has an intangible value linked to the collective meaning built from the experiences of people in their interaction with those goods. By extension, there is also an intangible value in goods that do not have a physical form, such as festivals, legends, traditions, but which are also part of the culture and cultural heritage of a territory. All this heritage, tangible and intangible, must be collected, protected and disseminated to, on the one hand, preserve its continuity over time, but also to provide tangible value to the people who live in the territory. Intervention forms are multiple and varied and also require multidisciplinary team participation. From an economic point of view, the current exploitation must be combined, obtaining an economic return on equity, with the preservation of future value, in order to make
Aldea da Fraga Reserva Biosfera Terras do Miño Traditional trades (traditional carpentry, in this case) current difficult survival secularized in the rural world, forces us to look for new ways of making knowledge profitable, trying to take advantage of the parallels, and synergies, between rural tourism and handicrafts. For this reason, within the offer, the possibility of customers being able to discover traditional trades is included, designing tailor-made tourist packages that, as differentiated elements, include monographic TURNOVER 3.519,00 €
NUMBER JOBS 2,00
the investments to be carried out integrate both the material and immaterial aspects, these often forgotten, but no less important and interesting. Digital technology adds economic value to existing heritage: digitized cultural materials can be used to improve and enrich visitor experience, to develop educational content, to develop documentaries and broadcast works, to boost tourism and to develop games and recreational applications. The following two initiatives are examples that share distinctive feature of leveraging each territory cultural heritage as a lever to expand other tourism and cultural activities development. Key issue is not only the characteristics that each initiative takes advantage of, but how to rely on them to build other opportunities.
workshops of furniture restoration, basic carpentry and creative turning of wood. This tourist-craft mix adapts to all levels of knowledge and participants particular interest, teaching to value works and to know the tools, materials and techniques to do so. Creation Year: 1997
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
-3.410,00 €
18.090,00 €
Language tourism offer evolves diversifying itself to respond to a tourist with increasing travel motivations, in search of the authentic and the local, and attracted by slow tourism philosophy. Entrelenguas en Ronda is a cultural immersion center where the visitor finds a wide range of leisure, cultural and language tourism. An alternative tourism concept has been developed to offer travelers the possibility to know Ronda and
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Creation Year: 2014
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
118.495,00 €
5,00
11.526,00 €
3.000,00 €
14.964,00 €
9.593,00 €
More information: http://artesaniadegalicia.xunta.gal/es/artesanos/catalogos/aldea-artes-n-de-a-fraga
the surroundings in an original and different way, while integrating into a regulated academic Spanish language learning program.
TURNOVER NET EQUITY
Economic Data (2018 Year)
26
Entrelenguas: from school to cultural immersion center Reserva Biosfera Sierra de las Nieves
More information: https://entrelenguas.com/en/
Provincial Government of Cáceres
Economic Data (2018 Year)
27
Green and circular economy
Nature Conservation Banks
Circular economy in practice We are entering an era of economy in a world full, in which natural capital or “ecological capital” will increasingly be the limiting factor. For this, as far as technology is concerned, the standard associated with Sustainable Development would be to prioritize technologies that increase resource productivity and efficiency in their use, rather than to increase the amount extracted from raw materials. This means, for example, designing better products or services from the beginning and/ or using new materials to make it more environmental and socio-economically friendly. To survive in the long term, organizations must design solutions to resource scarcity and environmental challenges from their operational strateCooperativa de Valorização dos Resíduos Reserva São Tomé-Príncipe Women’s cooperative initiative connected to the recovery of solid waste on the island. They gained training in the creation of jewelry, recovered an abandoned composting center and opened a recycling factory for the production of handcrafted pieces, which is selling to tourists. Each count they produce results from manually grinding glass bottles, cooking grinding at oven wood and then hand painted.
gies and models. This attitude will allow companies to create new capabilities and innovations they need to keep their costs and benefits in check. At the business level, the path to a circular economy, coupled with the consequent improvement of results that comes with the use of waste, pushes companies to seek, through new technologies, possibilities of harnessing by-products or waste that are generated, for example, in agri-food processes, in the form of compounds with application in the nutrition, health and/or cosmetic sectors. Other possibilities include the production of fertilizers, water, electricity, improvements in transport and logistics and food packaging.
Imagination, originality and perseverance are the hallmarks of this initiative that shows that no potential resource should be disregarded, since even the use of garbage can generate employment and wealth. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
Dehesa del Guijo Monfragüe The experience of pilot NBC in Extremadura consists of a “multiple bank” in the farm “Dehesa del Guijo”, which collects different habitats and species and that will promote connectivity between them: holm oak, grassland, Milvus Milvus camp area, Mediterranean pond for Ciconia Nigra,
mechanism of nature conservation banks is regulated in additional provision 8a of 9th December Law 21/2013 on Environmental Assessment, their practical application still depends on regulatory development that is pending. At present, however, progress can be made in the creation of mechanisms for valorizing the use of natural areas and in the acquisition of funding entities in the voluntary work, mainly based on corporate social responsibility. The example shown exemplifies that progress can be made in the economic exploitation of such activities even in the absence of the regulations that develop them.
Marsilea sp. and Isoetes sp. and feeder area for Aquila Adalberti. It was quantified credits that would result from the actions according to monitoring parameters selected by MAPAMA. Creation Year: 1974
TURNOVER
NUMBER JOBS
INCOME STATEMENT
SOCIAL CAPITAL
NET EQUITY
1.210.947,00 €
10,00
471.001,00 €
749.275,00 €
1.463.880,00 € Economic Data (2018 Year)
More information: https://www.noticiasmagazine.pt/2018/estrela-matilde-alentejana-apaixonou-pelo-principe/historias/227189/ 28
Nature conservation banks are market-based tools in which interchangeable securities are created, in this case environmental credits, from the implementation of biodiversity improvement actions that generate additionality that can be quantified. These credits can be sold to compensate for equivalent negative impacts on biodiversity. Equivalent means that the habitats or spaces that are improved must be the same ones that have been damaged or ecosystems of greater and better ecological virtues. In addition, in order to prevent ecosystems loss, the amount of new credits needed to compensate for an impact shall be, in quantity, greater than the occurred damage. Therefore, nature conservation banks allow negative residual impacts on biodiversity to be compensated through environmental credits purchase. Although the compensatory
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
More information: https://www.custodia-territorio.es/novedades/bancos-de-conservacion-de-la-naturaleza-situacion-actual-y-avances Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Extreme Bárdenas Bárdenas Reales Extreme Bardenas is a consolidated test in the national calendar of cycling competition; it is a race that many Sundays ‘bikers’ have it in their agenda and, certainly none, every year more athletes come with the intention of not suffering much and finishing it. But it is also a race that many mark to improve time, to suffer to the
maximum, and thus the 50 kilometers, where movement freedom is allowed and the test is not head controlled, they acquire spectacle with bikers who fullest dispute it. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: https://www.extremebardenas.com/extreme-2019/
Organization of sports and cultural activities Technology at the service of local communities
Crafts
Technology and proximity combined use enables products and services development that, otherwise, would not be able to be feasible, bringing resources closer to the point where they are required, such as the creation of consumer groups, whether geared on organic products, lower costs or cost savings, which, while conceptually not requiring technology for their operation, facilitates use and, by reducing transaction costs, causes the decrease in minimum viable size. The two initiatives presented show that even in the most difficult areas there are opportunities to build niche markets differentiated business opportunities. Sende: a rural haven with internet Reserva Xerés-Gêres The small mountain village of Senderiz, located in the Galician province of Ourense, hosts a space that allows its guests to work and live at the same time. This way of living makes a community build stronger and faster, unlike when only the place you work is shared. In just two years, almost 900 people have passed through Sende center,
Valuing cultural heritage These three initiatives share the exploitation of the craftsman’s purely productive activity with the value of their knowledge in the face of the communities which they live. Taller Idoia Cuesta Reserva Terras do Miño
from 44 different countries, who have developed multiple projects, since start-ups created or film organization or drawing festivals. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
visions on contemporary art, design, architecture, fashion and craftsmanship. Idoia organizes and participates frequently in training workshops on basketry. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/20-campus-de-emprendimiento-sostenible-en-las-reservas-de-la-biosfera-os-ancares-lucenses-y-terras-do-mino
More information: https://sende.co/ 30
2014 National Craft Award: “Idoia has revolutionized traditional Galician basketry through materials and colors use and has been able to propose basketry different uses, thus reaching new consumers and markets. An example of all this is the collection “Pandeira”, awarded on this occasion”. Her work is based on the fusion of basketry with the textile and versatility of the resulting piece, through the combination of organic materials with different craft techniques, bringing new
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Provincial Government of Cáceres
31
Taller de Xaneco Reserva Terras do Miño Ancient instruments research, combined with current construction techniques and more permanent contact with musicians, are the Taller de Xaneco essentialsee. This allows instruments that are made there to be in constant evolution and improvement, both for timbral and tuning, but without forgeting from Galicia musical tradition. The instruments that are made in Taller de Xaneco are those of traditional percussion and stilts. On percussion one of the main objectives is to publicize the wide range of percussion instruments that exist in Galicia, and to make them with a quality criterion to achieve their dignification and equal
to the consideration other instruments have, such as bagpipe. In stilts, the study of ancient instruments is combined with the knowledge of luthier techniques in order to achieve a musical instrument that is good to handle and tune and thus contribute in some way to its popularization. Xaneco exhibits its techniques and instruments in training and dissemination workshops. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
Pepa de Bonxe Reserva Terras do Miño Bonxe is one of the Galician ancestral ceramics that came to nowadays not without effort. Far away are those times when 90% of the population of this nucleus of Outeiro de Rei was directly or indirectly dedicated to pottery, either for its elaboration or for sale in local and provincial fairs. However, if today we can enjoy this anthropological and artistic country treasure is thanks to the commitment of people like Pepa Lombao,
heiress her family tradition, she is the only “cacharreira” that continues to keep Bonxe ceramics alive. Pepa teaches training workshops in its facilities and frequently participates in other dissemination activities. Creation Year: not available Economic Data: not availables
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/20-campus-de-emprendimiento-sostenible-en-las-reservas-de-la-biosfera-os-ancares-lucenses-y-terras-do-mino
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/20-campus-de-emprendimiento-sostenible-en-las-reservas-de-la-biosfera-os-ancares-lucenses-y-terras-do-mino
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Good practice: Efficient use of biomass in Cabrillanes Babia Cabrillanes City Council has opted biomass boilers installation in three public buildings of the municipality in the context of energy saving plan. Cost analysis carried out in the period 2009-2012 indicates savings of almost 70% compared to
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 53
Good business practices
Good practice: Parque Eólico Experimental Sotavento Terras do Miño On the northern slope of the Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve is the Experimental Wind Farm of Sotavento. Since its entry into service in 2001 it has become a benchmark on the new way of understanding a renewables production center that integrates outreach and research as essential parts of its activity. In addition to energy uses, the park is a visitable complex in which a wide
Biosphere Reserves should serve to promote sustainable development in their territory, exploring initiatives aimed at addressing social, economic and cultural needs of local communities.
Energy generation and savings. As power generation renewable sources become viable alternatives to fossil fuel-based generation, regulatory barriers to generation and improve the mechanisms of storage and balancing of power grids, electricity production can become a relevant economic activity in many rural areas. And not only in itself profitable but can become a source of competitive advantage, based on self-consumption, for other industrial sectors. In Spain, energy use in building park is inefficient and can be reduced by 20-40%, depending on weather, building type, conservation and use. The great challenge to narrow energy consumption and associated emissions is, therefore, buildings energy rehabilitation, carried out in a comprehensive and efficient way. Only 16% of Spanish buildings are energy efficient, with the building envelope as the point through which the most significant energy losses occur. 34
propane and more than 53% on the diesel used. In addition to the economic savings, which is more than noticeable, the use of pellets as heating fuel brings other important advantages, both logistical and environmental.
Sustainable energy model transition needs a profound change in energy use culture use from current highest consumption to one of savings, efficiency and zero emissions. The intelligent use of energy requires efforts in education and collectively and individually adopting new responsible ways of understanding energy consumption. Biosphere reserves are testing places for the new energy culture where rational use of resources is promoted. It would be of little use to advance the transition to renewable energy if it is maintained to have standards and consumption habits that favor the waste of energy. Only one part of the equation would be solved and in the end one energy source would be replaced with another, even if it is less polluting. In this area of action, the Madrid Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves stresses precisely the need for more climate-friendly lifestyles, production and consumption. Business experiences in biosphere reserves
repertoire of renewable energy applications is presented, becoming a showcase of different technologies. It has the support of an outreach center and another of R&D activities. Since its opening, more than two hundred thousand visitors have made use of its facilities.
More information: http://www.sotaventogalicia.com/en/ Good practice: Good practice: Coexistence between wind farms and birdlife Intercontinental del Mediterráneo Wind power generation effect have been under intense debate for more than a decade, and today there is a growing need for rigorous knowledge to reduce wildlife risks and impacts. Tarifa is the best place to develop bird protection surveillance systems, as the Gibraltar Strait Route spends 30 million birds every year on their
migratory journey from Europe to Africa and vice versa. The Tarifa case experience can be considered truly successful. If we take as a reference the collisions of griffon vulture, only in the period between 2007 and 2010 the results were as follows: a 65% reduction in the number of collisions, and a decrease in energy production of only 0.007%.
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 77 Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Good practice: Energy planning Urdaibai Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve is one of the first biosphere reserves to have an environmental energy master plan. The Plan establishes various actions aimed at achieving energy efficiency, renewable energies use and a competitive energy market.
To this end, it proposes actions aimed at improving the distribution network, diversifying the energy spectrum, achieving efficiency in activity sectors identified in previous sections, and encouraging renewable energy sources implementation.
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 85 Good practice: Good practice: Efficiency as an energy sustainability cornerstone Terres de l´Ebre A possible solution in actions to improve energy efficiency goes through the hiring of Energy Services Companies (ESE). According to Directive 2006/32/EC on end-uses of energy, these companies are defined as natural or legal entities providing energy services or improving energy efficiency in a user’s facilities assuming some economic risk in doing so. In Terres de l’Ebre this system has been tested in some municipalities. In Tortosa lighting system case, 35,000 inhabitants
and with more than 7,500 light points, a saving of 60% in electricity consumption, approximately 3,234,000 kWh/year, equivalent to 1,500 Tn of CO2. Another example is the municipality of Camarles in EbroBaix Delta, with 3,600 inhabitants and 969 light points. The savings achieved in consumption are close to 50%, 260,000 kWh/year and 120 Tn of CO2.
More information: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ceneam/grupos-de-trabajo-y-seminarios/red-espanola-reservas-biosfera/Energ%C3%ADas%20renovables%20para%20las%20RERB_tcm30-169694.pdf Page 91
Boost to primary sectors. It takes experiences aimed at strengthening the primary sector and diversifying it, orienting its evolution towards improving local population quality of life and integrating it with Reserve conservation objectives and with sustainability general principles. Good practice: PASTOR project Picos de Europa PASTOR project is a cooperation initiative between five counties (belonging to the regions of Asturias, Navarra, Teruel and Madrid) with a tradition of grazing, aimed at analyzing the activity reality, and rehearsing and developing actions in different lines to improve the difficult situation of grazing and make possible a future for the trade. Generally, it is intended to improve productive conditions and social perception of the trade of
pastor. The project offers the possibility of recovering a profession practically lost and of great cultural tradition and whose existence is essential for the maintenance of certain types of landscapes. It also focuses on the possibility of creating new jobs, with a broad educational component, which is not limited to those who are already engaged in this activity but is extended to all people interested in their learning.
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/images/PDF_publicaciones/Catalogo_experiencias_demostrativas_Reservas_ Biosfera_espanolas.pdf Page 64 36
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Good practice: Value truffle and mycological tourism Valles del Leza, Jubera, Cidacos y Alhama Truffle crop has been promoted in La Rioja Biosphere Reserve as a global project to preserve natural and human heritage in the territory. A nursery specialized in mycorrhized plant has been created in Leza Valley. There is the possibility to
enjoy guided truffle tours and taste truffled products in different hotel establishments of the Reserve and during Soto Truffle Fair in Cameros. The truffle can be found at Logroño Plaza de Abastos, thanks to the impulse that has been given to the direct sale of it.
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/pdf/RB_VallesDelJuberaLezaCidacosYAlhama_ES.pdf Good practice: Hortas d´Idanha Reserva Tajo Internacional Hortas d’Idanha, S.A. is a public limited trading company, founded in March 2010. It is an initiative of Idanha-a-Nova Council, of producers and economic agents, which was assumed as
a further response to the need to develop and energize the agricultural potential of the region of Idanha-a-Nova. Its objective is the production, processing and marketing of fruit and vegetable products and the provisioning of associated services.
More information: http://www.hortasdidanha.pt/site/index.php/en/ Good practice: Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves network of beekeepers Various biosphere reserves To achieve its objective, two main actions have been carried out among the Biosphere Reserves: local events where Reserves establish contact
Good practice: Public pasture use contracts Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Signing contracts for the use of public mountains pastures with private users is a common practice, but the interest of this experience of contracts between the Ministry of Environment and Land Management and the livestock associations of
the Biosphere Reserve lies in the formula used, which allows farmers to participate in the management of the reserve, since they are the ones that highlight the improvements they need for optimal development in the framework sustainable development.
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/download/13_cf3f379781d2e5402ccf21fb037b5299 Good practice: Agricultural biodiversity recovery Sierra del Rincón La Sierra del Rincón traditional horticultural varieties recuperation, preserved by a small part of the Reserva’s neighbors, has since 2011 become a catalyst for a cost-effective and promising local development option, potential source
income and, as a main objective, population fixation factor in a threatened rural environment like many others of depopulation, abandonment and therefore loss of their cultural and natural values.
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/download/65_be90ca5cef66bf7a1bd902cc7930efcd with beekeepers in the territory and an online survey to understand the state of the art of beekeeping in the Mediterranean Reserves.
More information: http://www.unescomedcenter.org/en/news/244/the-mel-project-network-of-beekeepers-in-mediterranean-biosphere-reserves
Good practice: Developing hops Reserva Mariñas-Betanzos Lutega Galician cooperative is the intermediate step between research and its application in hop cultivation. Specifically it is located in the region of Betanzos, in the territory of the Mariñas-Betanzos Biosphere Reserve in Galicia, and its objective is to reintroduce this crop in the region, as
well as its transformation and commercialization among the main beer producers in the area. To do this, and as an innovation in its latest harvests, it has used the range of microalgae biostimulants AgriAlgae of the biotech company AlgaEnergy.
More information: https://www.innovagri.es/comunidad/lutega-emplea-las-microalgas-para-bioestimular-la-planta-de-lupulo.html
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Good practice: Renovarte. Sobrarbe Art and Heritage Ordesa-Viñamala Renovarte. Sobrarbe Art and Heritage was esblished in 2001 with the main objective of renewing during summer days the historical heritage of Sobrarbe region with works of contemporary art. The coexistence between ancient and current art offers very interesting, innovative and creative
experiences and projects while offering an original and alternative cultural itinerary to the visitor and the neighbor of Sobrarbe. Renovarte consists of several simultaneous exhibitions and seeks to claim the cultural heritage of this region, so important and numerous and that sometimes remains semi-forgotten.
More information: https://renovarte.sobrarbe.com/contenidos.php?niv=_5H10LCMR1&cla=_5H316221A&cla2=&tip=2&fechaact=2019
Boosting the sustainable tourism sector. In this case, as in the previous one, we have experiences related to the diversification and change of model of development of an economic sector, which in this case is tourism. From the construction process for tourist use, to the gastronomy offered, following sustainability parameters, attracting a target group sensitive to this topic. Good practice: Tourism based on the local community Corea - Jeungdo You can see Jeungdo as one of the few places where tourism operates strictly on ecotourism philosophy foundations, regarding the following points. 1) Good collaboration has been created among local leaders. The committee of local representatives and elderly is the central deciding body, and some of the professionals of the younger generation lead the operation. It maintains a good relationship with local government, accommodation companies, restaurants and businesses of the island, as well as with external experts and NGOs. Furthemore, constantly strive to increase awareness and fitness for interested participants.
as a place where knowledge and information is compiled and supplied. What’s more, it’s a space that provides advice and feedback about the region. This visitor center also offers exhibitions, so it serves as a small local museum to attract tourists. 3) There is a local ecotourism company in Jeungdo called Gilbut (meaning “travel companion”), which is a socially purpose-built company that leads ecotourism in Jeungdo. All of the company’s partners are local residents and take care of marketing, public relations guided tours and even sometimes offer entertainment.
2) There is a visitor center “Ecomuseum of the Tidal Plains of Jeungdo” that serves as the central axis of ecotourism. This center is a place where ecotourism activists can discuss and share diverse experiences among themselves and also serves More information: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000227213 40
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Green information and marketing tools. It includes initiatives aimed at information and dissemination mainly of socio-economic and tourist type, designed to be useful for the development of Reserves populations and future customers that will use reserve as a holiday point, relaxation or same temporary work. Good practice: Free electric vehicles to discover nature parks Several natural parks at Castilla y León and Portugal
Cultural ethnographic heritage. It includes experiences of preserving traditional practices and historical-cultural heritage of the Reserves, used as a tourist attraction through festivals, fairs or regional shows. Good practice: Architectural Use of Wood natural resources Reserva Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Architectural Use of Timber Natural Resources Study in Sierra de Cazorla region proposes that the use of underutilized endogenous resources, such as wood from the mountains and olive groves, can contribute to sustainability, through the use local materials (fundamental premise in sustainable urban models); economic development,
through the promotion of auxiliary enterprises (extraction, transformation, carpentry, construction, biomass generation for thermal purposes), as well as seeking the recovery of the local timber technique, providing solutions to building sector that take advantage of this natural resource.
More information: http://www.redr.es/es/cargarAplicacionNoticia.do?identificador=29627
Seven natural areas of Spain and Portugal close to border promote a new way of seeing these green areas, by offering the possibility of doing so in electric vehicles made available to visitors for free. The aim is to advance the creation of tourism products of electric mobility that are characterized by being “innovative, quality and compa-
More information: https://www.hosteltur.com/108756_vehiculos-electricos-gratis-para-descubrir-los-parques-naturales. html Good practice: Andalusia boosts sustainable mobility on tourist routes Several natural parks at Andalucía
Good practice:
Recovery of thatched houses Portugal – Santana - Madeira Being a predominantly rural area, Santana-Madeira Biosphere Reserve has been responsible for the protection of one of the largest cultural heritages of Madeira autonomous region: houses with thatched roofs. Once there was a widespread
use of an agricultural by-product (wheat), thatched houses now have a social support program that helps holders of this heritage maintain the traditional trait and identity. Raw material is provided by Biosphere Reserve Management Commission.
Más información: http://rerb.oapn.es/images/PDF_publicaciones/reservas-biosfera-iberoamericanas.pdf Página 194 42
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
tible with the protection of the environment”. A similar project is also underway in Lanzarote. The program has started in four natural parks of Castilla y León and three of Portugal, and the balance of the first two months of this initiative in favor of sustainable mobility has been very positive.
In order to promote sustainable mobility in areas of tourist and environmental interest, Andalusia and Algarve will offer places where there are charging points for electric vehicles. To do this, an application has been developed that allows to organize these routes providing information of the places of interest of each municipality or natural park. During the life of the project, six urban mobility plans have also been developed,
as pilot projects, in the municipalities of Isla Cristina, Aracena and Aguilar de la Frontera, in Andalusia, and Loule, Silves and Castro Marim, in Algarve, which will serve as a model to other Spanish-Portuguese towns. Likewise, four plans of electric mobility have been launched in protected areas: Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, Sierra Norte Natural Park of Sevilla, Parque Natural da Ria Formosa and Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António.
More information: https://www.hosteltur.com/133370_andalucia-impulsa-la-movilidad-sostenible-en-las-rutas-turisticas.html Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Good practice: Itinerant exhibition “SOMOS BIOSFERA, SOMOS GRAN CANARIA” Gran Canaria In order to improve the dissemination and values of the Reserve, a traveling exhibition composed of various exhibition media has been designed. More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/download/50_036354804ae391f00c26eb6a3ae3752c
Good practice: Territory Custody Agreement Terras do Miño On December 1, 2014, Lugo Provincial Council of Lugo and Galician Association of Custody of Territory signed the agreement of territory custody with a duration of 4 years, for the development of conservation activities and use of natural values and resources, cultural and landscape of the plots belonging to Lugo Provincial Council, located in Insuas do Miño and Ollos de Begonte,
Participatory planning.
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/download/43_e5e183b2ff9b4f0c4d72bba3b3663f32
Initiatives related to the development of strategic tools of participatory and collaborative planning that guide Reserves action in the promotion of the sustainable development of their populations.
Good practice: Scotland’s support for the social economy Several zones
Good practice: Good practice: Territory Custody and Ecotourism La Palma Territory Custody is a strategy that promotes co-responsibility between owners and users in the conservation and correct use of natural, cultural and landscape resources and values. It is a proven tool to preserve the natural resources and ecosystem services they provide to society, as well as for the preservation of cultural and landscape resources.
Biosphere Reserves have particularities for implementing the Territory Custody: their functions, approach and zoning make this project considered with a global approach, beyond partial agreements, based on strict sense conservation, to move towards approaches closer to the principles promoted by UNESCO, principles that have proved its validity in the decades of implementation of the Man and Biosphere Program.
More information: http://rerb.oapn.es/component/k2/item/download/56_98ee36176423102bd68a7c074df589e8 44
according to the figure of territory custody. The territory custody is a strategy for territory management that helps environmental organizations, called custodial entities, to conserve biological diversity, landscape and cultural heritage of specific places. This, logically, requires the collaboration of landowners, whether public or private.
Business experiences in biosphere reserves
Scottish govermente has been a strong advocate of social enterprise, employing a business strategy, typical of the private sector, to achieve broader social/environmental objectives, which were traditionally more associated with voluntary organizations. This strategy has enabled Scotland to become a leader in the development of the social enterprise sector, as well as an issuer of social and environmental services. Social enterprises also differ from other organizations in the tertiary sector striving to be independent of grants and donations. They need to be economically independent to survive and meet their social and/ or environmental goals.
One of the projects carried out within the Strategy has been public procurement for the development of biomass. Scotland’s purchasing system identified the need (a requirement) for a solution of biomass heating systems in the public sector that exceeded market capacity at the time. The solution came from an energy supply agreement that pays for the heat that comes from biomass systems at a fixed price, which encourages suppliers to install efficient boilers and keep them in good working condition.
More information: https://www.gov.scot/policies/third-sector/social-enterprises/ Provincial Government of Cáceres
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Good practice: Association of Nature Conservation Banks EE.UU. - Various areas Virginia Mitigation Banking Association goal is to promote maintenance, expansion and success of private mitigation markets in Virginia through cost-effective participation, supported by the necessary legal and technical analyseis, in the corresponding legislative, judicial, regulatory
and administrative procedures, and in activities related to. All to ensure that public policies are informed by a full appreciation of the singularly significant contribution that private mitigation markets make to the environment and the economy in Virginia.
More information: http://www.vamitigationbanking.com/ Good practice: Good practice: Biosphere Reserves Venture Capital La Mancha HĂşmeda Biosphere Angels Network is a contact space between entrepreneurs with ideas and desire to undertake and those who have experience, contacts or economic resources and who can help
get these new business ideas up and running. Network offers an advisory service to entrepreneurs and investors. To entrepreneurs to realize their business plan through a training plan and to investors by conducting meetings and seminars.
More information: http://www.redbiosfera.com/
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REDTI es un proyecto aprobado en el marco del Programa Interreg V-A EspaĂąa-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020, cofinanciado en un 75% por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER).