REDIAM. WMS Andalusian beaches and ports awarded with Blue Flag in the period 1993-2011

Node of the Environmental Information Network of Andalusia. Junta de Andalucia. WMS service corresponding to the map of Andalusian beaches and ports awarded with Blue Flag in the period 1993-2011. The presence of a Blue Flag on a beach or port, granted by the FEE (Environmental Education Foundation) recognises and stimulates the efforts of some local communities to ensure that they meet certain criteria of legality, accessibility, health, cleanliness and safety and that they have adequate environmental information and management. The Blue Flag campaign is held annually in more than 40 states on five continents, including almost all of the enlarged EU states, independently, voluntarily and with the participation of more than 2000 coastal municipalities. Although the concession criteria have evolved and changed periodically, Andalusia has been granted concessions since 2003. This does not seek a universal model of beach or port, but rather that, especially on busy and organised beaches, the hygienic, sanitary and environmental conditions that current legislation requires and the safety and well-being of its users, locals or visitors, especially the weakest due to their age or disability, are respected. Under no circumstances can the infrastructure required by Blue Flag constitute an argument for altering the natural character of certain coastal areas. The vocation of these places would not be to get a Blue Flag, let alone use the fact of being awarded with Blue Flag as an excuse to facilitate the construction of access roads and facilities or their subsequent requalification/urbanisation. That is why identifying or rewarding those greener, remote or inaccessible beaches and best ecologically preserved, is not the function of Blue Flag. The data referred to in this metadata indicate each Andalusian beach or port that on at least one occasion in the period 1993-2011 have been awarded with Blue Flag. Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Junta de Andalucia. Integrated into the Spatial Data Infrastructure of Andalusia, following the guidelines of the Andalusian Cartographic System.