**3.4 Implementation of a local sustainable tourism network**

Based on the green and blue infrastructure of the Olo river basin, and on the requalified microsites and links, it was possible to design a sustainable tourism network (**Figure 9**). It was confirmed the enormous potential of the Olo river basin for sustainable tourism: It is rich in crystal clear waterlines, and it has impressive waterfalls, a distinct native flora and fauna, very well-preserved habitats, and a long history and rooted traditions. There are plenty of natural blue and green corridors structured on a highly branched hydrographic network and full with riparian galleries.

### **Figure 8.**

*Landscape Architecture - Processes and Practices Towards Sustainable Development*

recreational and leisure areas as well as the important village of Ermelo.

are prominent elements of the territory's natural and cultural heritage, very well known by the local community, and located along the existing route network.

Each key landscape point reveals a distinct combination of microsites. KLP 1 is rich in natural hydrological elements and in viewpoints; in KLP 2 it abounds water intake, conductions, and utilization structures as well as religious architectural heritage elements; in KLP 3 and KLP 6, it is located in a Ranger's House; in KLP 4 it's possible to observe vernacular heritage and traditional bridges; and KLP 5 includes

Summarizing, a total of nine different microsites, both natural and cultural, are foreseen for recovery actions. And for each of them, generic goals and specific

*Location of the microsites in the key landscape points of Ribeira da Fervença and associated objectives and* 

**86**

**Figure 7.**

*measures for their requalification.*

*Photomontages illustrating the microsites after requalification actions. (a) Ranger's House adapted to landscape interpretation center; (b) refurbishment of a leisure area; (c) viewpoint with security guards and information boards; (d) houses rehabilitated with local materials and technics; (e) rehabilitation of bridges and paths improving walking routes; (f) secure enjoyment near nature and water courses.*

### **Figure 9.**

*Implementation of a sustainable tourism network in Ribeira da Fervença subunit.*

Furthermore, an agroforestry mosaic very well balanced between terraced green fields supported by small schist walls and forests of native species forests guarantees an ecologic connectivity. To these green and blue infrastructures, an extensive network of unique cultural elements and links, rehabilitated in order to ensure easy and comfortable visitation and recreation, was now assembled. A sustainable tourism network was therefore implemented that simultaneously protects the natural heritage, recovers the cultural heritage, and respects local community's values and traditions.

### **4. Conclusions**

Sustainable tourism is a new way of exploring destinations around the world, without damaging the balance of the planet's habitats and traditional ways of life of local populations. In this chapter it is also argued that sustainable tourism can revitalize depopulated rural landscapes and counter rural exodus by boosting local economy.

A multiscale methodology is here proposed as a strategy to acquire a deep knowledge on the natural and cultural values of rural regions towards the design of a sustainable tourism network. Green and blue infrastructures are assumed as the structuring matrix to which a network of rehabilitated cultural values and improved connections between them is added.

Resorting to the acupuncture metaphor, it is advocated that small-scale, short budget interventions in microsites located in key landscape points will allow a holistic revitalization of the whole region.

**89**

**Author details**

Cláudia Oliveira Fernandes\* and Giulia Olivetti

provided the original work is properly cited.

(European Regional Development Fund).

Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Planning,

of Sciences, Associate Laboratory, University of Porto, Portugal

\*Address all correspondence to: cofernandes@fc.up.pt

CIBIO-InBIO—Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, School

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

*Planning for Sustainable Tourism Based on Green Infrastructure: A Multiscale Methodology…*

The methodology was tested in the Olo river basin, and its applicability was proved, although, for operational reasons, only one of the landscape units has been analyzed. The procedure will be easy to replicate for all identified landscape units, according to an intervention priority. It was therefore demonstrated that the multiscale character of the methodology enables its application in a wide range of landscapes and on different scales, allowing operating on both vast territories and

The implementation of this strategy can lead to the creation of a long-term solution for rural remote regions, facing depopulation that is an integrated largescale sustainable tourism network. This will help limit the waste of resources and

A sustainable tourism network has the potential to relaunch local economy, improving the living conditions of the residents and allowing the creation of a very important tourist hub in the region. However, it should be emphasized that the success of any planning strategies is only achieved with the collaboration and active participation of different stakeholders: municipalities, public institutions linked to regional planning and landscape management, tourism-related companies, and

The authors would like to thank OH!Land Studio and to the Municipality of Amarante for inspiring and supporting this project. This research was carried out under the project Olo River—Living Laboratory for Sustainable Tourism and studies for the Characterization and Enhancement of the Landscape, funded by NORTE 2020 (2014–2020 North Portugal Regional Operational Program) and ERDF 2020

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91789*

minimize the negative impact of too invasive tourism.

on small regions.

small local businesses.

**Acknowledgements**

*Planning for Sustainable Tourism Based on Green Infrastructure: A Multiscale Methodology… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91789*

The methodology was tested in the Olo river basin, and its applicability was proved, although, for operational reasons, only one of the landscape units has been analyzed. The procedure will be easy to replicate for all identified landscape units, according to an intervention priority. It was therefore demonstrated that the multiscale character of the methodology enables its application in a wide range of landscapes and on different scales, allowing operating on both vast territories and on small regions.

The implementation of this strategy can lead to the creation of a long-term solution for rural remote regions, facing depopulation that is an integrated largescale sustainable tourism network. This will help limit the waste of resources and minimize the negative impact of too invasive tourism.

A sustainable tourism network has the potential to relaunch local economy, improving the living conditions of the residents and allowing the creation of a very important tourist hub in the region. However, it should be emphasized that the success of any planning strategies is only achieved with the collaboration and active participation of different stakeholders: municipalities, public institutions linked to regional planning and landscape management, tourism-related companies, and small local businesses.

### **Acknowledgements**

*Landscape Architecture - Processes and Practices Towards Sustainable Development*

*Implementation of a sustainable tourism network in Ribeira da Fervença subunit.*

Furthermore, an agroforestry mosaic very well balanced between terraced green fields supported by small schist walls and forests of native species forests guarantees an ecologic connectivity. To these green and blue infrastructures, an extensive network of unique cultural elements and links, rehabilitated in order to ensure easy and comfortable visitation and recreation, was now assembled. A sustainable tourism network was therefore implemented that simultaneously protects the natural heritage, recovers

Sustainable tourism is a new way of exploring destinations around the world, without damaging the balance of the planet's habitats and traditional ways of life of local populations. In this chapter it is also argued that sustainable tourism can revitalize depopulated rural landscapes and counter rural exodus by boosting local

A multiscale methodology is here proposed as a strategy to acquire a deep knowledge on the natural and cultural values of rural regions towards the design of a sustainable tourism network. Green and blue infrastructures are assumed as the structuring matrix to which a network of rehabilitated cultural values and

Resorting to the acupuncture metaphor, it is advocated that small-scale, short budget interventions in microsites located in key landscape points will allow a

improved connections between them is added.

holistic revitalization of the whole region.

the cultural heritage, and respects local community's values and traditions.

**88**

**Figure 9.**

**4. Conclusions**

economy.

The authors would like to thank OH!Land Studio and to the Municipality of Amarante for inspiring and supporting this project. This research was carried out under the project Olo River—Living Laboratory for Sustainable Tourism and studies for the Characterization and Enhancement of the Landscape, funded by NORTE 2020 (2014–2020 North Portugal Regional Operational Program) and ERDF 2020 (European Regional Development Fund).
