Valongo, Portugal, has been recognised as a best practice by the Sustainable EU Tourism project for its strong focus on linking nature conservation with sustainable tourism development.
 

Located near Porto and part of the Porto Mountain Park, the municipality faces the dual challenge of relying on natural resources while ensuring their long-term protection. To address this, Valongo joined forces with neighbouring municipalities in 2016 to create the Association of Municipalities of Porto Mountains Park, focused on managing protected areas and implementing EU-funded projects aimed to restore native ecosystems, strengthen climate adaptation, and raise awareness through citizen engagement.

Valongo has also invested in the rehabilitation of the heavily polluted Leça River through the Association of Municipalities of the Leça River Corridor, supported by REACT-EU funding. Actions include waste removal, controlling invasive species, and protecting riverbanks through natural engineering solutions.

Furthermore, the municipality actively involves both residents and tourists in conservation through educational games, composting, tree planting, river cleaning, and initiatives like the Centre for Environmental Interpretation and Roman Mining, which highlights Valongo’s natural and cultural heritage. 

Valongo’s strategy shows how destinations can align tourism with environmental sustainability by investing in nature-based activities, EU co-funded projects, and strong community involvement. This approach strengthens biodiversity, enhances the tourism offer, and ensures that the preservation of natural resources remains at the heart of local development. 

For more details on the key challenges the destination has faced, and the solutions implemented to address them, please refer to the attached document.