The Custody of the Territory
A pillar of Ecotourism in Biosphere Reserves
Understanding Land Stewardship: A Collective Commitment to Preserve our Heritage
Land stewardship is a way of working together to care for our environment, encompassing not only nature and territory, but also the cultural and landscape resources that make up our heritage.
In simple terms, land stewardship is a series of strategies and tools designed to involve the owners and users of any type of resource in its conservation and proper use. This is achieved through agreements and ongoing collaborations between owners, stewardship entities and other public and private stakeholders. For example, a farmer might collaborate with an environmental organization to preserve the survival of nesting birds on his farmland.
Who are the Custodian Entities?
Stewardship Entities are the organizations that lead these conservation and preservation efforts. They are not-for-profit and can be as diverse as a neighborhood association, a conservation group, a foundation, a city council or even a consortium of several public organizations.
These entities are key to implementing land stewardship techniques. For example, a foundation dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage could work with local property owners to restore historic buildings, ensuring that they remain in good condition and accessible to the public. Similarly, a neighborhood association could care for a local park and organize cultural events, keeping the spirit of the community alive.
In short, land stewardship is a community effort where everyone, from individuals to organizations, works together to protect and preserve not only our natural environment, but also our cultural and landscape heritage. And stewardship organizations are the key players in facilitating and coordinating these initiatives, ensuring that the efforts are effective and sustainable.
A public utility tool
Land stewardship has established itself as an essential tool for the preservation of natural resources and ecosystem services that benefit society. It also plays a crucial role in the conservation of cultural and landscape resources. In this context, Biosphere Reserves can play a decisive role in the implementation of this stewardship, as their principles are aligned with its objectives. Ecotourism, in turn, can be an effective way to materialize these efforts.
In 2015, the Charter of Foundation and Adhesion to the Land Stewardship Network in Biosphere Reserves of Macaronesia was signed on the island of La Palma . This event marked the beginning of the design of a Common Land Stewardship Strategy in the region, with the La Palma Biosphere Reserve as the promoting entity.
In 2019, the International Conference on Land Stewardship and Ecotourism in Biosphere Reserves and Island Territories of Macaronesia was held . At this conference, more than 90 professionals participated in sectoral workshops, defining the guidelines to be followed in terms of land stewardship and ecotourism in island reserves. Important benefits of the use of land stewardship in biosphere reserves emerged from this conference, such as:
- Conservation of natural, cultural and landscape biodiversity.
- Prevention, control and eradication of invasive exotic species.
- Contribution to the active management of Natural Spaces and Protected Areas in private areas.
- Complementary instrument for nature conservation and natural resource management.
- Integration with the zoning and functions of the Biosphere Reserve (conservation, logistics and development in the core, buffer and transition zones).
- Improvement of territorial functionality.
- Support for local products under the Biosphere Reserve Brand.
- Promotion of ecotourism initiatives.
- Support for European policies and legal instruments such as the European Landscape Convention, Green Infrastructure and the Water Framework Directive.
- Development of actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
In La Palma, we have worked intensively to make visible the fundamental role of nature conservation in private or community spaces, involving society in the preservation of natural, cultural and landscape values. Examples of these actions include:
- Community care of paths by neighbors, in collaboration with administrations such as the City Council, the Biosphere Reserve and the Cabildo.
- Activities that respect nature and biodiversity, such as ornithological tourism and whale watching, carried out by companies committed to ecotourism.
- The rescue of native varieties of almond trees, adapted to the bioclimatic conditions of the island, which contribute to landscape valuation and forest fire prevention.
The integration of these initiatives demonstrates how land stewardship and ecotourism can converge to promote sustainable development, preserving both biodiversity and the cultural heritage of our islands .