The shared main aim of the STEP-project was: to tackle a number of problems (environmental, socio-economic, water management) in the estuary nature areas by dealing with the capitalisation of new opportunities in sustainable tourism in close cooperation with all involved organisations and companies. This should lead to improved protected nature reserves, reduced environmental problems, more appealing areas and more economic benefits for the local communities.

For this project 4 objectives were derived from this main aim:

1. Joint detailing of the concept of sustainable tourism in estuarine nature reserves (on the basis of the European Charter of Sustainable Tourism) in the field of infrastructure, accommodation, transport, fund development and promotion.

2. Joint detailing and testing of new, sustainable forms of visitor management in wetlands and the involving of new target groups thanks to innovative concepts in the field of ICT and visitors’ centres.

3. Developing and testing innovative, sustainable methods, concepts and products, and stimulating and supporting companies to implement these and/or market them in conjunction with the tourist industry.

4. Involving as many local inhabitants and companies, regional organisations, national policy institutions and European organisations and institutions as possible in the project by means of a well-thought out communications strategy, interesting workshops and conferences and publications.

The focus within Activity 1 is on public facilities: how can these be realized as sustainably as possible? This activity is divided into six sub actions and within each one or more actions or investments (pilots).
1. European Charter for sustainable tourism: workshop EU Charter; actions to communicate about sustainable tourism; (re)application of EU Charter
2. Sustainable touristic infrastructure: solar ferry connection; investments in cycle roads and hiking paths; studies about sustainable infrastructure; design plan Schiphoekpolder and investments to realize this plan.
3. Small-scale, sustainable accommodation: studies; design competition; realisation Ecolodge
4. Sustainable boating: study into opportunities; landing and charging points
5. Visitors, sustainable tourism and nature management: study into the possibilities of fund creation; excursion Lake District; realisation of visitor giving funds in 2 areas.
6. Branding and promotion of sustainable tourism: plans and implementing actions; transferable plans for the whole Sigma area.
The key objective of Activity 3 is the detailing of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism for tourist companies. This activity consists of three sub actions and within each one or more actions (pilots):
1. Sustainability criteria for various types of tourist companies: studies, new criteria for boat hire companies and hosts in the Biesbosch, company checks by Green Key and Green Tourism Business Scheme, supporting implementation;
2. New sustainable products: supporting and promotion of sustainable products and services
3. Public-private cooperation: existing partnerships with companies have been reinforced and involved more closely in the activities of partners.

Key results within Activity 1 were:
- Tourism Strategy and Action Plan for NP De Biesbosch and the Broads
- granting of EU Charter for Sustainable Tourism to The Broads and De Biesbosch
- New solar energy ferry for cyclists and hikers in De Biesbosch
- Sustainable recreational infrastructure in the Polders van Kruibeke
- One pilot for small-scale accommodation (ecolodge) in De Biesbosch
Key results within Activity 2 were: - Park-app for the three areas
- Visitor management plan, investments in the reception zone and reconstruction of roads in De Polder van Kruibeke
- Three GPS-hiking routes, 3 sign posted canoe routes and 1 mapped cycle routes in De Biesbosch
- Implementation of various small-scale investments at entrance gates in De Biesbosch
An education package for primary schools in Polders van Kruibeke
- three listening chairs with information on all kinds of issues in De Biesbosch

Key results within Activity 3 were:
- New criteria and checklists for boat rental companies in view of the Green Key and Green Tourism Business Scheme
- Criteria for sustainability checklist for companies and for hosts in De Biesbosch
- Fourteen new Green Key companies in De Biesbosch and fifteen new GTBS companies in The Broads

All partners have benefitted from the results. In a direct way they benefitted from the local actions and investments realised in their area. But they also have benefitted from actions carried out by the whole partnership (such as excursions, workshops, studies etc) and those executed in one of the other areas. For example the partners in De Polders van Kruibeke (PP3 and PP4) have learned a lot from the visitor giving funds established in The Broads and De Biesbosch. The Broads has learned a lot from the development of house styles In de Polders van Kruibeke and De Biesbosch.
Not only the partners in the project have benefitted directly from the results of this project, but also closely involved stakeholders as Staatsbosbeheer, de gemeente Drimmelen and a lot of entrepreneurs in De Biesbosch, the municipalities, schools and entrepreneurs around De Polders of Kruibeke and the County Councils, tourism federations and companies in The Broads.

The effects /outcomes in terms of the wellbeing and progress of people (in their capacity of consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, savers or community members, etc.) are in all three territories:

- Consumers and community members: a more accessible nature area, a more enjoyable area, more information about the area in terms of things to do and to watch (birds, flowers etc), areas that are better protected against flooding, pollution and miss use.

- Entrepreneurs: they have seen and experienced what is possible in greening their business, they are now much more closely involved in matters as fundraising, management and branding the area together; they much more see now the necessity to work together to maintain the areas and to attract people

- Workers: they gained a lot of new knowledge and experiences in working cross-border, in what is going on elsewhere and what they can learn from other territories, they gained new inspiration and motivation to go on (even with more energy) in their work to make their areas more attractive and sustainable. Most of the actions which will hopefully increase the number of visitors were implanted only last year, so not many results could be measured during the STEP period. However in the Polders of Kruibeke new touristic steering committee overviews the current touristic offers of Kruibeke.

The real added values are:

• EU-charter, based on the experience in the Broads

• Profiling of wetlands in general in EU and the importance of the Biesbosch in the Netherlands.

• The importance of the uniformity of entrepreneurs and their change of attitude towards sustainability

PP3: A cross-border induced vision on sustainable visitor management which can be implemented in the other Sigma plan-areas. It is extremely interesting to observe 'how things work' in other countries and it makes you open minded and more critical towards your own management

PP4: Develop a vision on sustainable gateways, on ambassadors and on visitor payback. The examples of the other partners inspired us and some people of the local community enormously. As a result of this the municipality of Kruibeke changed its attitude towards the project of GOG KBR and is now willing to cooperate in a positive way.

PP5: It has brought vibrancy to the project – new perspectives; the enforced need to spend time reflecting on progress and the ease of sharing thoughts with new partners. Some ideas have proved not suitable in England (and that is helpful) though others have stimulated new considerations we would not have had.

There were no direct synergies with other 2 Seas cooperation projects and/or other EU funded projects.
In De Biesbosch, LP has had some interchanges with colleagues in Dordrecht and surroundings about the project and experiences to learn and inspire each other.
After the official closure of the STEP project the communication manager of LP was present at a partner meeting of the Balance project, to talk about the experiences with disseminating the results of the project, like how to the final conference was organised and how the guideline was produced.
A LIFE+ project was developed (LIFE+SCALLUVIA) in the Polders of Kruibeke. The partnership of this project has been made possible because of the positive effects of the STEP-project.
Waterways and Sea canal (PP3) started another project (PRISMA) with the Broads Authority as one of the partners.

In general: The project makes it possible to realize your ambition in a short time and with more spin off than expected. It is inspiring and gives energy, commitment and motivation for co-workers and partners, entrepreneurs and (non-) government partners.
More specifically:
- It is a contribution for profiling your area and organisation
- Cross border co-operation takes time to get to know/trust each other of the areas involved, including cultural differences.
- Beware of the time it takes for legalisation and bureaucracy for the infrastructure elements.
- Take a good, experienced lead partner
- Use the major and minor modification opportunities.
- It is always more work than expected.
- Build up a good relationship with the JTS
- Each country has a different perspective due to its unique background: sharing those perspectives can stimulate new ideas and ways of working.
- We all experienced that there are still many more people that need to understand the importance of a healthy, wildlife rich environment

All partners are institutional structures that will maintain and use the actions and investments made in this project. Of course they all will go on with practicing sustainability in new infrastructures and visitor management. They will also build forward on other project’s results as studies, cooperation with entrepreneurs and communication. For example:

- Two entrepreneurial (visitor giving) funds being established in Biesbosch and Broads are an important long lasting result.

- The STEP website will be available for years to come and be maintained by the LP.

- With the winning design teams PP4 will start negotiations which will lead to the building of the gateway.

- Many stakeholders were reached and positively surprised about the results of STEP. This has led to a more positive attitude towards the areas involved and is an important step towards the further development of sustainable tourism.

- The approvals of the EU-Charter and deep involvement of the business forum in The Broads have helped ensure sustainability of the project

The intention will be to retain contacts and continue to learn from each other. In hindsight it may have been sensible to consider how this might be best achieved and establish suitable support mechanisms or reinforce why this should occur. As two partners are members of Europarc this will help facilitate continued links.

Also partners will promote each other’s area as a sustainable tourism destination with the concept of the 3 park pals Daisy the Dragonfly, Betty the Beaver and Xavier the Roe deer. The STEP-website will be maintained for several years. Every website has a link to the websites of the other STEP-areas.

LP: We are looking for possibilities of cooperating in another project on a sustainable subject.

PP3: We will participate in 2 Interreg IVA 2Seas-cluster projects in which we will disseminate the knowledge and lessons learned from STEP. We will also participate in the LIFE+ with PP4. We will keep on supporting the municipality of Kruibeke in integrating the Polders of Kruibeke as an economic, natural and educational enrichment of the community, in which the new sustainable infrastructure and roads are an important contribution.

PP4: We are exploring the opportunity to apply for a cluster project. In addition we will start a LIFE+ Nature project in September 2013, during 4 years to restore nature and to keep on communicating about and developing the recreational possibilities within the area.

The positive cooperation with the municipality of Kruibeke is certainly a result of the STEP-project. Kruibeke is now a partner in the LIFE-SCALUVIA project. We hope we can work further on this positive change.

PP5: Tourism support in the Broads Authority has been changing over the last couple of years and moves into a new phase from August. We are discussing with other partner to be involved in a cluster project regarding tourism and will certainly keep abreast of what develops.

For real new EU-projects we haven’t any concrete plans at the moment. However as stability occurs over the coming 6-8 months, it is hoped fresh forward plans will be confirmed and the potential to look for further trans-national projects could arise. Certainly the links made will make this so much easier.