Approved by the Secretary of State for Tourism within the framework of the “Spain Tourism Experiences” program (order ICT/1524/2021, of December 30th; Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism).
Enjoy the Scientific Ecotourism Experiences that form a pioneering network in the world. 6 private non-profit foundations in the field of conservation and 16 protected natural spaces in Spain.
Learn about ecotourism experiences based on making known, with the help of those who carry them out, the scientific programs associated with each species and their habitats. Brown bear, Iberian lynx, bearded vulture, Iberian imperial eagle, black vulture...
Thanks to this project you can learn about them, observe them and contribute to the conservation of the most emblematic Iberian fauna.
This project is developed by a Group Proposal coordinated by the Fundación para la Conservación del Quebrantahuesos and formed also by Fundación Oso Pardo, Fundación Aquila, Fundación CBD Hábitat, Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre, .
The project
A Scientific Ecotourism Experience in Spain (EECE) is a trip to know, observe, learn and appreciate the species and their habitats that motivate trips to Spain; and explore the protected spaces and their surroundings that house this biodiversity, through the interpretation of the conservation programs carried out by the foundations in collaboration with the environmental authorities, enjoying the associated tourist services provided by a selection of local companies that comply with good practices in sustainability, and contributing in a practical way to the conservation of biodiversity.
The EECE are made up of a series of interpretive facilities and tourist services selected for their environmental commitment in protected spaces and their surroundings, grouped to know, enjoy, learn and actively participate -without negatively impacting the environment- in the conservation of the most endangered species and their habitats, through private foundations that have developed successful scientific programs in Spain for the conservation of those species along with environmental administrations and in collaboration with local tourism companies characterized by their good practices and sustainability. Through the prism of conservation, the EECE aim to focus on the protagonist species and their habitats with an interpretative, educational, recreational and practical support approach. Sustainability, responsible observation tourism and the contribution to the fight against climate change through carbon-neutral experiences, are fundamental premises in ECCE. All experiences are designed according to the EECE Manual, a manual of good practices and sustainability.
By participating in any of the Scientific Ecotourism Experiences in Spain you are already helping the Conservation of these species and their habitats. The experiences include a financial contribution system that each Foundation reinvests in its work with the species/habitat. In addition, you are also helping the fight against climate change, as the experiences are Carbon Neutral. They have been designed to minimize impacts on the environment, and their carbon footprint is calculated, offset and carbon offsetting certified.
The Scientific Ecotourism Experiences in Spain (EECE) are tourist experiences set up by private non-profit foundations in the field of conservation, based on sharing scientific knowledge about conservation projects for endangered species and habitats in Spain that these foundations carry out in accordance with the environmental authorities, with the collaboration of local companies, without impacting the environment while also facilitating the tourist's contribution to conservation.
Thanks to this work, there are several biodiversity conservation programs in Spain, which have become biodiversity success stories in Europe, such as those done for the bearded vulture, brown bear, Iberian imperial eagle, and Iberian lynx, black vulture and their associated habitats or the recovery of wetlands.
Thanks to these EECE, you can now learn about and participate in these success stories.
The 6 conservation foundations develop this project throughout the national territory focusing their activity mainly on 15 natural spaces, spread across 10 provinces belonging to 8 autonomous communities where they have different centres and farms for their projects. Scientific Ecotourism Experiences offer the chance of taking an ecotourism trip following the Great EECE Route along the scientific ecotourism corridor.
Whether through a single route or in stages, this digital catalogue and the APP allow you to fully enjoy the Great EECE RouteRoute – an exciting scientific ecotourism tour through natural areas such as Picos de Europa (Asturias and Cantabria slope), Ordesa and Monte Perdido (Huesca), Somiedo (Asturias), Monfragüe (Cáceres), the Sierra de Andújar (Jaén), the Sierra de Gredos (Ávila), Montaña Oriental (Cantabria), the Campo de Azaba (Salamanca), the Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca (Castellón), the wetlands of Tierra de Campos (Palencia) or the Llanuras de Oropesa, Lagartera y Calera and Chozas (Toledo).
Great EECE Route
1. Bearded vulture
1.Bearded vulture
1. Bearded vulture
2. Brown bear
2. Brown bear
3. Iberian imperial eagle
3. Iberian imperial eagle
4. Iberian lynx
4. Iberian lynx
4. Iberian lynx
5. Black vulture and western Iberian pastures
5. Black vulture and western pastures
6. Recovery of wetlands and pastures
6. Recovery of wetlands and pastures
The EECE are ecotourism experiences linked to programs and efforts for the conservation of species and protected natural spaces, offered by private non-profit foundations in the field of conservation (third environmental sector). The Foundations (NGOs) that develop these experiences are: Fundación para la Conservación del Quebrantahuesos, Fundación Oso Pardo, Fundación Aquila, Fundación CBD Hábitat, Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre, and Fundación Global Nature.
In collaboration with:
How can I help in Conservation?
By participating in any of the Scientific Ecotourism Experiences in Spain you are already helping the Conservation of these species and their habitats. By participating in any of the Scientific Ecotourism Experiences in Spain you are already helping the Conservation of these species and their habitats. The experiences include a financial contribution system that each Foundation reinvests in its work with the species/habitat. In addition, you are also helping the fight against climate change, as the experiences are Carbon Neutral. They have been designed to minimize impacts on the environment, and their carbon footprint is calculated, offset and carbon offsetting certified.
