Biosphere Reserves from North Devon and Brighton & Hove in England and Iroise Isles & Sea and Marais Audomarois in France share common issues. They are the only 4 protected areas of the France-Channel-England zone which are recognised by UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme as international demonstration areas for sustainability that connect people and nature. These reserves are highly popular destinations due to their natural surroundings. Collectively, they attract over 20 million visitors per year, which can have an impact on the environment
BCHT is an EU Interreg project which aims to use the concept of Bio-Cultural Heritage which celebrate the heritage and cultural practices linked to the environment to develop new tourism products. The Bio-Cultural Heritage Tourism (BCHT) project focuses on the goal to increase the value of tourism whilst safeguarding and enhancing the BCH values of the areas.
At the end of the BCHT project, a tourism strategy will be developed to reduce visitor impact at sensitive environmental sites and highlight opportunities for new activities and locations in four Biosphere Reserves. New BCHT products on the less sensitive sites will be offered by local businesses under the guidance of a common master plan. These tourism products will offer, to the visitor, the opportunity to discover new places, cultural habits, and boost the sustainable economy in each region.