The proposal for the Serra da Estrela Natural Park Co-management Plan provides for measures worth 10.4 million euros (ME) by the end of 2026 in six municipalities in the districts of Guarda and Castelo Branco.
The document to enhance the protected area is up for public consultation from today until the 30th.
The proposed strategy takes into account the territory of the six municipalities covered by the Serra da Estrela Natural Park (PNSE), Celorico da Beira, Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas and Seia (Guarda district) and Covilhã (Castelo Branco district), in its entirety, including the area outside the boundaries of the protected area, which corresponds to a total area of 237,299 hectares, 166% larger than the protected area.
The plan includes actions with an estimated cost of 10.4 million euros to be carried out by December 2026.
Approved on March 11 by the PNSE Co-Management Committee, the proposal aims to create, develop and consolidate a participatory, collaborative and articulated management model, enhancing this protected area and contributing to the sustainable development of its populations.
The aim is to develop a plan for the PNSE that is close to and open to local actors, in order to take their wishes into account, bringing together and giving a voice to the people in the process of managing the territory, and ultimately implementing it in a transparent and accountable way.
The strategy is based on four axes: classification as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (transversal axis), promotion, awareness-raising and communication.
Among the measures listed is the creation of a tourist transport network to mitigate the need to use your own car to access the highest point of the mountain.
The measure will make it possible to enhance the territory and also ensure that the vehicle load capacity of the High Plateau is respected and thus contribute to the protection of unique mountain habitats.
The Co-management Committee’s proposal includes other measures to improve visitation to the Natural Park, a network of hiking trails, a network of mountain festivals, new tourist products and strengthening the promotion of the Natural.pt brand.
The document also calls for actions under the “PNSE + Resilient” concept, an environmental education program and a communication and marketing plan.
The Co-management Committee is chaired by the Mayor of Manteigas.
The commission also includes the regional director of Nature Conservation and Forests of the Centre, a representative of the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, another from environmental non-governmental organizations and similar, appointed by the Portuguese Confederation of Environmental Defense Associations, another from the Estrela Geopark Association, another from the Serra da Estrela North Landowners’ Association and a representative from the Regional Tourism Authority of the Centre.
The term of office of the PNSE co-management committee is four years.
The request to join the co-management model was made to the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) in December 2021 by the six municipalities that make up the PNSE.
Contributions to the public consultation can be sent to the email address co***********@ge************.pt, by post to Associação Geopark Estrela, Ninho de Empresas de Manteigas, Rua dos Amieiros Verdes, 6260-128 Manteigas or delivered by hand to the headquarters of Associação Geopark Estrela.
