The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Trentino's protected areas

In Trentino all protected areas are certified with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS), an internationally recognised tool for the management of sustainable, responsible and quality tourism in fragile environments, such as parks.

The CETS certification process is one of the main objectives of the TurNat project, the sustainable tourism development strategy for the entire Trentino protected areas system developed in 2012-2014, with the aim of integrating biodiversity protection, tourism and agriculture.

The certification of all the protected areas was completed in 2019. Trentino can therefore count on more than a third of the surface area where sustainable tourism actions are tested and implemented. Initiatives ready to be disseminated throughout the rest of the province, even outside the protected areas.

Adamello Brenta Nature Park

It obtained the CETS certification in 2006, among the first parks in Italy, revalidated in 2012, 2018 and 2022, confirming the value of the work carried out by the protected area together with its 38 municipalities and many territorial partners.

Considering that the strategy of adhesion to CETS was started in 2004, the Park is approaching twenty years of commitment in promoting a sustainable tourism for the territory and attractive to the market, inspired by 3 principles

• to involve, in the choices, in a participatory and active way, all the interests at stake in the tourist area
• protect diversity, i.e. protect existing tourism motivations
• promote diversity, i.e. discover and invent new tourism opportunities.

Successful projects such as the Dolomiti di Brenta Bike and Dolomiti di Brenta Trek circuits, the "Un'estate da Parco" notebook, the Qualità Parco entrepreneurial partnership project and the ParcoKey were born thanks to the Cets.

In 2015, the Adamello Brenta Nature Park also activated Phase II of the Charter, the first in Italy thanks to a pilot project desired by Federparchi. This phase sees local private operators as the main protagonists and is aimed at strengthening the links between the protected area and the partner companies located in the territory, so that tourism can positively contribute to the development of a healthy economy that uses and develops local potential and resources. This second phase rewards companies that meet the requirements of environmental protection and link with the territory, according to specific specifications, also granting them the use of the Qualità Parco logo. To date, 52 accommodation facilities have been certified, including hotels, garnis, agritourisms, B&Bs and campsites.

In May 2023 it activated, once again the first Park in Italy, the Phase III of the Charterwhich is reserved for tour operators, but in this specific case certification was awarded to the 5 tourism companies belonging to the Park.
In Trentino, the rules that regulate the activities of the Aziende per il Turismo, in fact identify them not only as the bodies in charge of promoting the territory but also as the subjects that aggregate tourist services, creating the offer at a local level and its intermediation. The tourist boards of Val di Sole, Madonna di Campiglio, Val di Non, Garda Trentino and Dolomiti Paganella have proven to have sound environmental but also social and labour policies, as well as a lasting and effective collaboration with the Park in the management of tourist flows for the sustainable management of the protected area.

For more information on the CETS of the Adamello Brenta Natural Park:

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Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Nature Park

At the end of 2015, the other Trentino nature park also obtained CETS after a participatory process that lasted about a year but was able to count on already active collaborations. The European verifiers validated the strategic document and the Action Plan that emerged from the participatory process: 32 project sheets indicating objectives, activities and expected results, in order to implement the same number of territorial development projects over the next five years in which the concept of sustainability is at the centre of new forms of tourism.

The certification has been revalidated in 2022.

For more information on the Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Nature Park CETS:

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System of Networks of Reserves

In October 2017, the Trentino Network of Reserves system also achieved the coveted recognition of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (CETS).
The validity of the project, promoted by the Provincial Department of the Environment, to nominate not a single protected area but the entire system of Networks of Reserves to the Charter, with the Province assuming the role of coordinator and guarantor, was thus recognised.

During 2016, the Networks of Reserves organised 26 round tables in their territories, involving the main actors of the economic and social fabric - first and foremost the Companies and Consortia for Tourism, but also local administrations, associations, museums, individual accommodation operators, mountain guides, agricultural enterprises - in the conception of projects and interventions in the field of sustainable tourism.
These meetings made it possible to involve 146 local actors and stakeholders. A total of 232 actions were implemented throughout the system for the five-year period 2017-2021, many of which had already originated during the TurNat project seminars and workshops held in previous years.

The certification was not revalidated and therefore lapsed, but the working method remained integrated in the management of the Networks of Reserves.

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The Stelvio National Park

The participatory path was initiated in 2018 at the initiative of the Ministry of the Environment, the certification was revalidated in 2025.
The three sectors of the National Park shared strategic lines and operational methods, but independently conducted meetings with local stakeholders and forums.

The new Action Plan 2026-2030
It contains a total of 95 actions: 32 will be implemented directly by the Park, while the remaining 63 will be implemented by other stakeholders in the territory, who have thus shown their commitment to a responsible and balanced tourism development with a view to shared responsibility.

Trentino sector actions
-11 actions led by PNS Trentino
- 4 actions led by local authorities
- 9 actions led by Apt, Consorzi Turistici, Trentino Marketing
- 7 actions led by private subjects
- 14 actions led by associations
- 4 joint actions with Trentino parks
The novelty of this revalidation
The entire municipality of Pellizzano, and not only the portion inside the Park's borders, has been involved in the National Park's strategies, as is already the case for the municipalities of Peio and Rabbi. The municipality of Pellizzano and the ASUC of Termenago and Pellizzano will be the coordinators of some new actions.

For more information on the Stelvio National Park CETS: