The Azores: leader in sustainable tourism
The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the islands' natural beauty and unique biodiversity, sustainability is vital in preserving their delicate ecosystem. The Azores government, together with several non-government organizations and private sectors, has implemented various programs to promote sustainable practices. Some of these include minimizing the use of plastic, focusing on ecotourism, and encouraging local agriculture and fishing practices. The Azores also use renewable energy, mainly from hydropower, geothermal, and wind power, to reduce their carbon footprint. The commitment to sustainability continues to be a top priority in the Azores, ensuring the preservation of the archipelago's unique cultural and natural heritage for generations to come.
The islands are known for their beautiful nature, where you can hike in the mountains and enjoy views of the ocean and lakes, relax in the hot springs, go diving in the clear blue waters or go whale and dolphin watching. In fact, the Azores are best known for whale and dolphin watching since the archipelago is a pit stop or home for about a third of the world’s species of cetaceans. Sperm whales, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins can be seen here year-round. Other species, like blue whales, pass through on migration routes. Unesco designated three of the islands (Graciosa, Flores and Corvo) as Biosphere Reserves (special places for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems), and the archipelago also contains 13 Ramsar sites (important wetlands). A code of conduct governs how many boats can congregate near a whale, the direction from which they must approach the animals, and how long they’re allowed to shadow them.
This was different not so long ago, when whale hunting was part of the Azorean economy (whale hunting was only abolished in 1987). The vigia (watchtowers) used for hunting are now used to help tourist boats go to the right direction. In 2017 the conference ´Azores, towards Sustainable Tourism´ was held on the island of São Miguel. At this conference national and international experts, political and business leaders, and academics with recognized careers in this area came together to consider the future of the Azores and its principles of sustainable development, which are:
the importance of preserving the natural and cultural heritage while at the same time creating fair and lasting wealth
the international imperatives of climate governance towards a global low carbon economy
the increasing pressure that a growing global population puts on the planet and the region.
The islands are also working hard on increasing the output of renewable energy. In 2018 a geothermal power plant of Pico Alto on Terceira/ Azores was inaugurated that provides up to 10% of the island's electricity demand and with another plant on the island of São Miguel provides around one fourth of all electricity generated on the Azores. In. 2018 the Azores already had 37% of the electricity produced from renewable energies, of which 24% were from a geothermal source and the government is planning on increasing this number in the near future. Furthermore, rational use of water is supported by the Regional Plan for the Water (PRAA), which is the primary planning instrument for the quality and quantity management of water resources of the Azores. This involves water conservation, protection, and balanced management of water.
The Azores government's focus on sustainable development has been the key driver towards preserving the ecological and cultural heritage of the Azores. The implementation of various initiatives such as renewable energy, organic farming, and eco-tourism, have enabled the Azores to showcase a model of sustainability. The measures have had a positive impact, ensuring that the islands can thrive without harming the environment. The Azores offers a valuable lesson on how ecotourism and sustainable development can successfully coexist.
