Está aqui
Visiting network of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
It is known that the recovery and protection of a natural area with these characteristics can only be possible through its experience. Promoting the development of a responsible attitude of preservation and respect for the values in question presupposes the possibility of the spaces being enjoyed by the population and by visitors, as long as it is done in a sustainable and appropriate manner.
In classified areas, there has been an increase in demand for playgrounds and recreation spaces associated to the interpretation of natural systems. However, there is still no capacity to provide these spaces to those who seek them.
In order to meet this demand, the Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade (Institute for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity), in partnership with the Câmara Municipal de Cascais (Municipal Council of Cascais), through Cascais Ambiente (Cascais Environment), has created the Visitation and Interpretation Network for Parque Natural Sintra - Cascais (Sintra-Cascais Natural Park) (RVIPNS-C), a project that aims to serve the interests of an integrated education and environmental awareness, nature tourism, nature conservation, scientific research and serve as a cutting-edge, creative and important example in the use of natural, economic and social resources.
Visitation plan
With an intervention scenario that covers the entire area of the Natural Park, this plan includes the creation of a macro-structure for the visitation and interpretation of different characteristic units of the landscape, such as Litoral da Roca, Serra de Sintra and Abano - Penha Longa, in Cascais, or Terra Saloia, in Sintra.
The objectives of the Plan are mainly focused on the implementation of a programme which will allow the whole society to visit a protected area with specific characteristics, which will be underpinned and valued, as well as a set of actions for the active management of natural habitats and species, some of which have a high status of threat.
The Visitation Plan will be integrated into a network system with the logistics based on a Centro de Interpretação da Natureza (Natural Interpretation Centre) - LINEU - which will act as a "great door of the PNS-C" and various specific Interpretation Nuclei (NI).
These Nuclei will be provided with support services for visitors, supported by an interpretative exposition of the surrounding area, thematic routes guided by specialised technicians or more autonomously, using digital guides. They will also be linked by footpaths and cycle paths, sharing equipment, such as bicycles, segways, binoculars and digital guides.
In the scope of the Visitation Plan, two interventions have already been carried out:
