Valsaline, located just 2 km south of Pula’s historic centre and 10 km from the airport, is a unique Mediterranean coastal area that combines pine forests, rocky beaches, and recreational spaces. Covering roughly 125,000 m², it represents an interface of nature, heritage, and urban life — a rare urban-natural refuge for both residents and visitors.
Despite its potential, Valsaline is under pressure. Climate change, erosion, and uncontrolled recreation threaten the fragile coastal ecosystem. Rapid urban development, unclear land-use priorities, and weak coordination between environmental and tourism policies put biodiversity, cultural heritage, and local identity at risk. Tourism remains underdeveloped, with limited services and no sustainable business model in place, creating a tension between short-term economic interests and long-term conservation.
Key challenges include:
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Lack of a dedicated sustainable tourism strategy for Valsaline
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Weak infrastructure: trails, signage, eco-access, and visitor facilities are insufficient
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Limited citizen participation and awareness of ecological and cultural values
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Risk of environmental degradation and user conflicts during peak tourism periods
The TOCAREMED project is working to transform these challenges into opportunities. By introducing sustainable tourism strategies, integrating environmental protection into planning, and promoting participatory governance, Valsaline can evolve into a model of resilient coastal management. Priority actions include improving tourism and sport, eco-infrastructure, raising local and visitor awareness, fostering sustainable business models, and ensuring that tourism development supports both biodiversity and local heritage.
Through collaborative planning, pilot testing of innovative approaches, and close engagement with stakeholders, Valsaline has the potential to balance conservation, urban development, tourism and recreation. The project aims to preserve this unique coastal area while strengthening its socio-economic value, turning Valsaline into a sustainable destination that benefits residents, visitors, and the environment alike.
