The approval was made during the 4th Session of the Council of World Geoparks, held in Indonesia.


“The region of Serra da Estrela has seen the Council of World Geoparks of UNESCO approve its candidacy for World Geopark status and it is now just waiting for the opinion of the Executive Council of the United Nations agency,” said the Geopark Estrela Association in a statement sent on Tuesday to Lusa.


According to Joaquim Brigas, president of the association and the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda (IPG), the approval of the application by UNESCO is the recognition of the geological potential of the territory and its natural and cultural heritage and, as such, a first step towards the sustainable development of the entire region of Estrela.


“A natural effect of this first step will be to increase the tourist, economic and social potential of the municipalities that are part of the territory and, therefore, an increase in the quality of life of the people”, Joaquim Brigas said.


The Geopark Estrela Association is composed of nine municipalities in the districts of Guarda, Castelo Branco and Coimbra (Belmonte, Celorico da Beira, Covilhã, Fornos de Algodres, Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas, Oliveira do Hospital and Seia) and by IPG and the University of Beira Interior (UBI).


According to the note, the training of staff specialised in ecological preservation, environmental protection and tourism management are some of the priorities of IPG and UBI.


The role of the municipalities of the region is also highlighted by the president of the association when stating that the involvement of all municipalities in this project, more than an important pillar for the application process to progress, was paramount to the success obtained.


According to Joaquim Brigas, from now on, only with a similar focus on the dissemination of the territory, its natural heritage and its endogenous products will it be possible to continue to contribute to the development of Serra da Estrela.