Advancing Circular Economy Adoption in EU's PAs: A Realist Evaluation and Evidence-Informed Approach

Objective

"The CircTourEU project addresses pressing environmental challenges in the protected areas (PAs) in EU by applying Circular Economy (CE) principles to tourism. CE promotes resource reuse and sustainability, vital for combatting overtourism, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity decline. Rural regions heavily dependent on tourism face these challenges and require innovative resource management and governance. The Southern Mediterranean hosts many European PAs, facing tourism surges. To protect these habitats, a systematic shift to CE involving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is crucial. Yet, SMEs in EU tourism lack research and innovation focus, necessitating rural research and innovation pilots. Led by Dr Ante Mandić, supervised by Prof Xavier Font and Dr James Kennell, the CircTourEU project evaluates CE transition projects for tourism SMEs in the EU. It tests innovative methods in pilot PAs in Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Greece to promote evidence-based CE practices in the tourism industry. CircTourEU's innovation lies in using complexity science-based realist evaluation to understand barriers to innovation and knowledge integration in PAs. This approach offers nuanced insights into intervention effectiveness. The project recognises the importance of macro-level sustainability transitions and empowering rural SMEs with innovative CE business models. It considers context-dependent barriers and tailors strategies to unique PA governance and management contexts. CircTourEU aims to empower PA authorities for evidence-based CE transitions and disseminate knowledge for widespread implementation. Following the EU's ""evaluation first"" principle contributes to evidence-based decision-making, aligning with the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. The project provides valuable lessons for balancing conservation and economic interests in European PAs."