CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME, INTERREG V-A SPAIN-PORTUGAL (POCTEP) 2014-2020.

PROJECT CODE:

0067_FLUMEN_DURIUS_2_E

TITLE:

Promotion and enhancement of River Douro tourism resources.

CALL:

First

AREA OF COOPERATION:

Northern Portugal/Castile-Leon.

PRIORITY AXIS:

3. Risk prevention and improving natural resource management.

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE:

6. Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency.

INVESTMENT PRIORITY:

6.C: Protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE:

OE6.C. Protecting and enhancing cultural and natural heritage, to support the cross-border region’s economic base.

INTERVENTION CATEGORIES:

091. Development and promotion of the tourism potential of natural areas.

094. Protection, development and promotion of public cultural and heritage assets.

The aim of the Flumen Durius cross-border cooperation project is to enhance the value of the greatest natural asset shared by Spain and Portugal: the River Douro. The project will therefore tackle some of the region’s most significant challenges and address some of its opportunities, with the strategy based around making the most of the region’s local resources, promoting cross-border and sustainable tourism, by creating a range of tourism initiatives, focusing on working together and creating added value. At the same time, new opportunities are arising for the region that are translating into an increase in business opportunities, with the creation of companies and more employment, which is also the premise that serves as the backbone for implementing and developing the actions.

Each partner will apply a participative and complementary methodology to undertake different activities and take part in the actions carried out by other partners to protect and enhance the cultural and natural heritage of the Douro axis area.

• Project, ‘FLUVIAL – Nuevas Ciudades Fluviales del Siglo XXI, (0029_FLUVIAL_2_E)’ – (‘FLUVIAL – New River Cities of the 21st Century, (0029_FLUVIAL_2_E)’)

http://www.poctep.eu/en/node/2024

• Project, MARCADUERO – MARCA DUERO DURADERO: Sostenibilidad, Calidad y Promoción – (MARCADUERO – LONG-TERM DOURO BRAND: Sustainability, Quality and Promotion)

http://www.poctep.eu/es/2007-2013/marca-duero-duradero-sostenibilidad-calidad-y-promoci%C3%B3n

Flumen Durius, the Latin name for the River Douro, provides the acronym for our project, a cross-border initiative to preserve, conserve and promote the historical, cultural and natural values of the River Douro and its surroundings.

The Douro is the most important river in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, stretching for a total of 897 kilometres, 572 of which run through Spain and 213 in Portugal.

This special natural area has historically been a driver of development for agriculture, stockbreeding, culture and the energy industry, as well as an unmistakable symbol of unity and identity for the cross-border regions of Spain and Portugal.

It boasts an outstanding natural environment and biodiversity, including extensive territory within the Natura 2000 network, over 5,000 square kilometres of SCI (Sites of Community Importance as per the European Commission Habitats Directive), as well as nearly 3,000 square kilometres of river segments that form part of SPAs (Special Protection Areas) for birds.

Its ethnographic conditions, the beauty of its natural landscape, the biodiversity of this vast region and its historical and heritage value make the Douro an iconic cultural reference that brings together the two sides of the border.Flumen Durius, the Latin name for the River Douro, provides the acronym for our project, a cross-border initiative to preserve, conserve and promote the historical, cultural and natural values of the River Douro and its surroundings.