New European Bauhaus Prizes

Initiative title

Ecos Machico

Full initiative Title

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Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.

Ecos Machico develops a unique combination of knowledge and inovation as a response to the current demands for sustainable development, through the implementation of a territorial marketing strategy, based on the valorisation of the municipality's natural and cultural heritage.

Where was your project implemented?

Portugal

If relevant, please indicate the address of the initiative

Praça do Mercado Municipal, 9200-098, Machico

Please indicate the current stage of development of your concept

Completed

Has an infrastructure element or public space been identified?

Yes

Has political support for the project been secured?

Yes

Is there a commitment (current or future) to involve partners, end users, and other relevant stakeholders through a participatory or co-creation approach?

Yes

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?

Yes

Which fund(s)?

EAFRD : European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

Here you can provide more details about the name of the specific programme, strand/action line as relevant, and the year

Operation Code: PRODERAM20-19.2.3-FEADER-20107

Program: PRODERAM 2020

Measure: Support for community-based Local Development LEADER

Sub-measure/Action: Support for carrying out operations within the scope of local development strategies

Intervention: Cooperation for Local Development

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?

Please select the main municipality submitting the application: Applicants must pick only one option.

310403: Machico (PT)

Please select all associated authorities if relevant

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Please provide a summary of your initiative, outlining the overall aim, target group(s), specific objective(s) and expected outcomes.

Ecos Machico is a sustainability initiative in Machico, Madeira Island, focusing on environmental, social, and economic development. The project integrates knowledge and innovation to promote territorial sustainability by providing resources, implementing territorial marketing, and encouraging community participation.
A key feature of the project is the "Ecossítio" or Ecosite concept, which highlights sites of geodiversity, biodiversity, panoramic views, and cultural heritage with scientific, educational, and socio-economic value. The initiative also prioritizes environmental education and community engagement, organizing activities such as regular interpretative visits and environmental education actions to raise awareness.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.

Sustainability

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words

Conservation

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words

Nature

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words

Culture

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words

Heritage

Please describe key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.

One of Ecos Machico main objectives is to ensure the sustainability of the territory by marketing its natural (geodiversity and biodiversity) and cultural values as a way of reinforcing the connection of the local community with its own heritage. By thoroughly studying the municipalities patrimony and disseminating this information, to the general public, the project aims to bring more attention to the Ecosites, not only by publicising it through the main media channels but also by applying in situ interpretative signage. Additionally, the definition of these sites as areas worth preserving will guarantee the creation of specific regulation that will assure the conservation of this spaces, in a long-term scenario.

Please describe the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.

The initiative is innovative in their method of communication, designing new ways to reach wider audiences, from all ages, in the different media platforms used. In order to centralise all the acquired knowledge, throughout the project, an interpretative centre was created in the old Municipal Market building, a construction classified for its patrimonial importance. The interior refurbishment of this building, with a minimalist, sustainable and clean design, gave the visitors of Machico a space, open to the public, that promotes and teaches its visitors about the municipality’s patrimony. Besides this, the space is also used by the project’s team, where they carry out their investigative work/content production, while also endorsing various actions endorsed by the project and the municipality, making it the perfect place for a learning experience.

Please describe the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.

The Interpretative Centre Ecos Machico was designed and adapted to be inclusive to everybody, where people of all backgrounds, identities and abilities are welcomed and respected. Furthermore, our space, as well as our various digital platforms, provides secure and reliable information completely free of charge to everyone. In addition to this, the centre also produces various physical materials, in various languages, and audiovisual materials, like videos about the Ecosites, that aid people with disabilities to the information provided.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative

The project prides itself in providing learning experiences to the main educational institutions of Madeira, mainly directed to the local community. From interpretative visits to the Ecosites, to environmental education actions, training courses, lectures and conferences, local citizens are encouraged to participate, not only to learn more about their own territory, but also to enhance social interaction and a culture of responsibility regarding environmental issues. Additionally, the local community plays an important role in the project as a source cultural information, that is not found in traditional bibliography, and their participation is fundamental for the improvement of the initiative as a whole.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.

The main stakeholders and developers of the Ecos Machico project is the Câmara Municipal de Machico and the Associação Insular de Geografia. The co-partnership between these two local/regional institutions began in January 2021 (Protocol signed in 2019). The project was initially financed by community funds, under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The initiative is also a prominent participant in the Eco-Escolas program, a international program that promoted environmental education and sustainable practices in schools. In Portugal, the program is coordinated by Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa (ABAE).

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields have been or are being reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was

Geodiversity, Biodiversity, Geography, Sustainability and Territorial Planning are the fields the project reflects on, in all of the activities carried out, either in the interpretative centre or on the field trips. Besides cooperating with regional representatives of these disciplines in their events, Ecos Machico promotes a yearly conference where subjects such as sustainability, territorial planning and conservation of the endogenous heritage are discussed. In addition, the initiative strives to include regional examples of the best practices in each area, while also inviting national experts to broaden knowledge and experience of the attendants.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative

Ecos Machico is a highly innovative project as it distributes reliable information about the endogenous resources, as a way of promoting and protecting the Ecosites of Machico. Aside from producing the traditional marketing materials, like brochures and exhibitions, we also create a vast array of online content, either through our website (ecosmachico.pt) or social media platforms, as a way of conveying our message. One of the most notable characteristics of the initiative is how it focuses solemnly on the municipality of Machico, its natural and cultural values and the problems and issues found within. While we transfer knowledge from best practises on a national and international level, Ecos Machico tries to transform and replicate these mainstream actions to a more regional and feasible setting, in order to provide the local community with a high level of knowledge.

Please describe the methodology or approach used or being use in your initiative.

The initiative uses an approach based on scientific and historic research, as the first year of the project was dedicated to the collection, compilation and organisation of information about the municipality and, more specifically about the Ecosites chosen. As a way of monitor and follow the evolution of the territory through time, routinely visits to these sites are carried out, not only to photograph, but also to analyse any anomalies or irregularities that might be found. The project has also started a Monitoring System constituted by 109 indicators, that continuously registers data of Machico, like the quality of water and the number of passages in selected hiking trails. This later one is done automatically through the use of automatic counters that update the data on a daily basis.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.

Ecos Machico project has a high grade of transferability as is can be replicated in any municipality of Madeira or even mainland Portugal, since the root of the initiative is based on intensive research and marketing of the territory guaranteeing the sustainability of it, over an extended period time. This type of project might be particularly appealing to rural areas where the natural and cultural patrimony would benefit from an environmental education approach, where the sustainability of the space is put on top, of its touristic interest. An evolution that initiatives like this one might allow in the future, is the creation of a virtual visit to natural areas that had to be completely limited to human visitation, as the endemic fauna and flora were being threatened by anthropic activities.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions

As climate change keeps threatening biodiversity and consequently geodiversity, this initiative promotes conservation by protecting natural ecosystems, through the definition of Ecosites. This classification also encourages sustainable tourism, ensuring visitors enjoy Machico’s landscapes responsibly while reducing their environmental impact. By valuing the natural and cultural heritage, the project also ensures the preservation of traditions and historic sites, fostering a sense of identity and pride within the local community. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, education plays a key role in the project’s core. Through actions and hands-on activities, young people are engaged in sustainability efforts, enticing their critical thinking and turning them into the future leaders that care about the sustainability and the conservation of their home.

Please describe the activities planned for the further development and implementation of your initiative, and how the NEB values and working principles have been incorporated so far. Additionally describe what are the expected steps to implement the initiative according to the NEB values and principle.

In terms of activities planned to further develop the initiative in 2025, Ecos Machico is already working towards the 3rd edition of its conference and the 2nd edition of “Jornadas Ecos Ideias”, a contest that promotes active citizenship. Both of these events will have the new Nature Restoration Law, established in august 2024 by the Council of the European Union, as the main theme. The project is also committed to creating new marketing materials to promote the Ecosites, such as new itineraries, themed videos, a podcast with guest experts in the sustainability area and a book of the Ecosites of Machico that will serve as an official publication of the Municipality, to showcase the best it has to offer. Lastly, the initiative also wants to invest more resources in the protection and promotion of the Ecosites, in situ, by installing interpretative panels and limiting the access to certain areas, mainly the ones where biodiversity and geodiversity are more threatened.

Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.

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