The importance of wetlands. Els Aiguamolls Nature Reserve, Costa Brava, Spain.

The (r)evolution towards sustainable tourism is inevitable. Latest estimates show that tourism will grow with 6% annually and taking into account that tourism is responsible for 12% of global CO2 emissions, we have no choice. We have to change the way we do business.  And although it is near impossible to be 100% sustainable, there is plenty we can do to reduce our impact on the environment.  It is of vital importance to first understand what sustainable tourism is. Sustainable tourism takes into account the current and future economic, social and environmental impacts by meeting the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. Putting into practice is easier than we think. Here are a few things that we as travel agents can try to implement:

• Accommodation: use locally owned hotels that are environmentally friendly and that have locally produced food on their menu.
• Destination: develop new destinations/products in areas that are not already overcrowded and in regions that promote environmentally friendly tourism through cycling, hiking, birdwatching and other activities that are in harmony with the natural environment
• Transport: design your product in such a way that the starting point of the holiday can be reached by public transport
• Give back: integrate in your itinerary, or invest part of your profit margin, in nature conservation projects in the region of your product.
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Now back to the title of this article. Wetlands are the most important of all habitats due to their biodiversity and vulnerability. The protection of wetlands should be an integral part of sustainable tourism, case in point being the Aiguamolls Wetlands Nature Reserve, which I would argue is one of the first cases of sustainable tourism in Spain and a great example of how very few but very determined people can make a huge difference.

Back in the 60´s, the tourism industry in Spain exploded. Huge holiday resorts were being built without taking into account the environmental impact. But in 1978, in the bay of Roses where the Aiguamolls wetlands are located, the unbridled development of such holiday resorts provoked the protests against the destruction of these wetlands. With environmentalist Jordi Sargatal as their unsung heroe and leader, a group of local youngsters managed to put a stop to further real estate developments and the nature reserve of Aiguamolls was created.  It is thanks to just a small group of people who literally put themselves in front of the concrete mixer trucks that we can still enjoy the natural beauty of Aiguamolls as we are walking along the Costa Brava.

As travel agents, it is now our duty to collaborate in the conservation of our natural and cultural heritage.  For Aiguamolls in particular, there are several ways you can collaborate:

• Plan a guided visit for your clients. The more people know about the nature reserve, the more understanding, which will result in a new found appreciation for the natural world.
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• Describe the history and importance of the nature reserve in your itinerary. You would be surprised how many people do not know about these wetlands and how much they appreciate to have more knowledge and would even choose this destination because of its existence.
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• Be informed about their latest projects: For example, the Coracia's Project: a research project working for the conservation and thrive of the European roller (Coracias garrulus) in Catalonia.
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• For more information about the Nature Reserve: https://castelloempuriabrava.com/en/que-visitar/parc-natural-dels-aiguamolls-de-lemporda/

We can all make a difference!