INHERITURA areas label
INHERITURA areas are Mediterranean coastal destinations with rich natural capital where bottom-up measures are taken for the protection of the environment, the alleviation of seasonality and locality peaks effects and the promotion of sustainable tourism development. The management mechanisms of INHERITURA areas are extended through transnational cooperation and create a network of protected areas connected with multidimensional tourism itineraries focused on the protection and valorization of natural heritage. The INHERITURA labeling system constitutes an environmental sustainability certification with multiple environmental, economic and social benefits for the awarded areas.
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The INHERITURA label is awarded to coastal areas, which have specific types of natural & cultural heritage (such as lagoons, sub-mountainous rivers, volcanoes, coastal shipwrecks) in MED countries. The application consists of 17 criteria, evaluating four categories: a) environmental management and protection, b) valorization and promotional activities, c) governance and strategic planning, and d) education and awareness activities. Applicants need to address each criterion, providing any relevant proof needed. The INHERIT Committee (comprised by one representative from each INHERIT partner) evaluates the application and if it is successful the INHERITURA label is awarded to the area. After the label is awarded, the applicant authority along with the local stakeholders are responsible for overseeing and promoting the implementation of the INHERIT approach (bottom-up measures), and for branding activities.
Replicability conditions
To be eligible under the INHERITURA scheme, areas should be considered coastal, include natural heritage sites and meet specific criteria related to environmental management and protection measures, valorisation and promotional activities, governance and strategic planning and education and awareness activities. Potential applicants for the INHERITURA label should be willing to apply the INHERIT approach, the management mechanism and the bottom-up practices for the implementation of protection measures for the candidate areas. The managing authorities of candidate areas have to fill in an application form with specific details of the area. Delegated ambassadors of the project support each application procedure, provide training material for the implementation of INHERIT’s approach and management of INHERITURA areas and guide the applicants through the next steps towards the labelling award. The INHERIT Committee evaluates all the applications meeting the eligibility requirements and awards the label.