Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve

The Urdaibai estuary is a natural area formed at the mouth of the Oca River, in the Vizcaya region of Busturialdea, in the Basque Country, Spain. It covers an area of ​​220 km² and has a great ecological wealth that has earned it the title of a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO MaB committee in 1984,12 and is known as the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. It is also known as the Mundaca or Guernica estuary. In terms of its size and degree of conservation, it is the most important wetland in the Basque Country, and a relevant resting and wintering area for migratory birds. For this reason, and for its natural, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and socio-economic interest, a law was passed on 6 July 1986 regulating the use and protection of the area, declaring it a Biosphere Reserve. This law provides for measures aimed at the sustainable development of the territory.

This accreditation represents a roadmap for developing tourism focused on the principles of ecotourism, based on respect for the environmental, social and economic surroundings. Furthermore, it will provide the opportunity to raise awareness of this destination internationally and thus increase support for the balance between its conservation and the sustainable development of the territory, promoting the region as a quality, responsible and safe tourist destination, a reference in the Basque Country”, indicated its director Nicolas García Borreguero.

Visit Urdaibai Reserve

The initiative for the adhesion of Urdaibai to the CETS has had the involvement of the different administrations with competence in the management of Urdaibai, as well as the tourist entrepreneurs of the Busturialdea region. This is a participatory process led by the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Service, which is part of the Department of Environment, Territorial Planning and Housing of the Basque Government, and the Urremendi Rural Development Association. Furthermore, the active collaboration of the tourist offices of Bermeo, Mundaka and Gernika, the Basque Tourism Agency of Euskadi -Basquetour-, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the Association for Sustainable Tourism of Urdaibai – TOURDAIBAI, as well as the participation of civil society through the Permanent Forum, has been counted on.

The CETS is structured in three phases and it was at the beginning of the first when the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve began the participatory process for the preparation of the candidacy dossier, consisting of a diagnosis of the situation of tourism in the area, a strategy with the objectives for promoting sustainable and quality tourism and an action plan for its development over the next 5 years. For the preparation of the documents, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve had three support groups: the Permanent Forum for Sustainable Tourism, the Charter Working Group and the Technical Board.

The Permanent Forum is a participation and debate body that allows working with all public and private stakeholders linked to the tourism sector. This forum is essential to ensure the correct implementation of the action plan, as well as to work in a coordinated manner on the tourism development of the territory, based on criteria of participation towards sustainability. On the other hand, the Working Group consists of a smaller and more operational team, made up of the main tourism stakeholders in the territory, who are responsible for preparing the documents required for adhesion. Finally, the Technical Board is responsible for technical advice throughout the process.

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

The CETS is an initiative that has the overall objective of promoting the development of tourism in a sustainable way. The CETS is a method and a voluntary commitment to apply the principles of sustainable tourism, guiding managers of territories that are committed to sustainability and companies to define their strategies in a participatory manner.

Today, there are 168 spaces adhering to the CETS, spread across 20 countries. Among the benefits of this accreditation, the distinction in Europe as a territory of excellence in terms of sustainable tourism, the promotion of balanced socioeconomic development and the development of quality, authentic and coherent tourist products with their environment stand out.

To be able to enjoy our wonderful reserve you can enjoy a surf camp at Laga Surf Camp