Can a tourist destination for 30,000 people on the Portuguese coast become anything but an environmental nightmare? Yes, because its developers include the environmental groups World Wildlife Fund and Britain’s BioRegional. They are setting up the world’s first large-scale ecotourism project in Mata and Sesimbra, Portugal, modeled after BedZED, the sustainable residential development in south London that emits no carbon dioxide. According to the groups, the plan is for the resort to become a model—not so much of responsible holidaymaking but of an environmentally friendly way of life.

The entire resort, over 5,000 hectares, is to be powered using sustainable energy and will produce no waste within 20 years. Half the food will be grown locally and public transport will be so convenient that none of the visitors will need a car, Green Futures (January/February 2005) reports. In addition, the golf course, normally a major water-guzzler, will be irrigated using treated “grey” water and nearby woods will receive special care to attract a large bird population. The resort is scheduled to open in 2008.

Source: OdeMagazine.com