Biosphere Reserve
Such international recognition is especially significant for Lanzarote
given that, like the rest of the Canary Islands, it is a territory with
an economy firmly rooted in tourism.
Without doubt, Lanzarote's greatest investment - in addition to its
undeniable natural heritage - has been in maintaining a balance between
the development of tourism and the defence of environmental values. It is the coexistence of those two antagonistic forces that has allowed the island to transform itself into an international reference point in the field of sustainable development.
What is a Biosphere Reserve?
UNESCO created the concept of a Biosphere Reserve in 1971, with the aim of "distinguishing and maintaining those territories where there exist ecosystems that are representative of a biogeographical region and in which there are conditions that allow sustainable economic development and a use of the territory that is compatible with the conservation of its natural resources".
The island of Lanzarote came to be part of a network of protected areas of high ecological value in the world. The network currently has over three hundred biospheres.
The Lanzarote Brand
The Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve Brand, created by César Manrique, represents an erupting volcano viewed from above. It symbolises Lanzarote's innovative and creative strength.
