SMARTPARKS- Spatial planning and management of Protected Areas in small islands

Protected areas planning and management systems need to be adapted to small islands’ specific context, in order to ensure space organization efficiency and, simultaneously, to achieve inherent conservation and sustainability objectives. How? This is SMARTPARKS Project’s central problem. The team is composed by elements of the University of the Azores, Aveiro University, Évora University and New University of Lisbon, with knowledge in diverse domains, responding to Project’s multidisciplinary needs.
SMARTPARKS is based on an ecosystemic approach, considering the protected area as an indissociable part of the island’s ecological structure and biophysical system. Therefore, one of assumptions is the need for compatibility and integration of the protected area planning and management system into the island planning and management system, reflecting direct and indirect effects of planning policies and land management actions.

The Project is also based in the so-called new paradigm for protected areas design, planning and management and its adaptation to islands specificities. This approach privileges compatibility between human activity and conservation objectives, promoting new economic and cultural opportunities associated to protected areas. Instead of a conservation strategy focused only on species protection or habitats/areas management, the aim is an integrated approach contributing to the sustainable development of the protected area and, ultimately, of the whole island.
SMARTPARKS Project tries to contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable protected areas, through its compatibility with economic and cultural activities, population involvement and through the integration with planning and management options taken at the island level.