Madeira celebrates National Sustainability Day

In partnership with the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) and with the participation of the Madeira Promotion Association, the Regional Secretariat for Economy, Tourism and Culture, through the Regional Directorate for Tourism, celebrated National Sustainability Day with a symbolic ceremony at Achada do Teixeira, in Santana, with the aim of highlighting the importance of Biosphere Reserves.

Several Madeira cedars, an endemic species, were planted at the site and a commemorative plaque was placed to mark the occasion. The site was also chosen because it was one of the areas affected by the recent fires in Madeira, reinforcing the importance of environmental recovery and the protection of ecosystems.

The Regional Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, who was present at the initiative, emphasised that this act served to remember and highlight all the work carried out by the Region over the last few decades in defence of a more sustainable territory, passing on security, trust and a transparent commitment to sustainability. ‘It was also a special moment to mark the importance of the process of certifying the Region as a sustainable tourist destination,’ he said.

It should be noted that, in addition to the presence of the DMO (Destination Management Organisation), some representatives of the working groups involved in the process of certifying the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM) as a Sustainable Tourism Destination were also present, reinforcing the collective commitment to this important goal.

It should be remembered that of the 12 Biosphere Reserves in Portugal, two are located in the Madeira Archipelago (Santana and Porto Santo), and in 2011 the municipality of Santana received the first distinction award by UNESCO.

It’s also important to remember that since February 2023, the Autonomous Region of Madeira has been Certified as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, by EarthCheck – the world’s leading tourism destination certification organisation, accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). In April 2024, the region reinforced its commitment to this certification, obtaining the second level of the silver certification, thus confirming its position as a tourist destination of excellence, with a focus on sustainable development, according to the press release.

At the same time as the ceremony held this Wednesday in Santana, visitors to the Region’s eight Tourist Information Offices, as well as the Lisbon Office, were given pencils made from natural organic wood, containing a seed capsule that can be planted in the mountains, thus promoting a practical link to sustainability.