During the theoretical meeting at Biotur-2022, organized by the Ecotur travel agency, Antonio Vega, a member of the project in Holguin, presented several of the contributions from the economic assessment of coastal ecosystem services.

As a result of the research, Vega, who is also head of the Department of Coastal Management of the Center for Environmental Research and Services (Cisat), assured that it is an effective tool to develop good environmental practices, which contribute to the sustainable conservation of biodiversity.

Of the fruits of the project in the territory, Vega highlighted the environmental certification of the stretch of beach along the sector of the four-star Brisas Guardalavaca hotel, a distinction that recognizes the good practices of that manager.

For her part, Zulema Mir, environmental economist at Cisat and member of Ecovalor, said that based on the economic assessment it was possible to characterize the marine-coastal ecosystems of the Caletones protected area, in Gibara, and the Bahia de Vita-Playa Guardalavaca, in the municipalities of Rafael Freyre and Banes, respectively, for tourist use.

From both places, 32 ecosystem goods and services were identified in Caletones, while in the section Bahia de Vita-Playa Guardalavaca, there were 33, provided by reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, lagoons and coastal forests; rocky coastlines and sandy beaches.

Meanwhile, Yoel Dominguez, director of Ecotur Sucursal Oriente, recognized that with Ecovalor’s intervention in agroecological practices at the El Frutal farm, in the municipality of Banes, it was possible to include that farm in the agrotourism excursions of the travel agency and promote it now in the Biotur-2022 program.

Until July 20, the 7th edition of Biotur will promote the exchange of experiences and good practices among professionals, specialists, entrepreneurs and tourism operators, among other main actors who love natural and community heritage.

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