Fortunately, over the past ten years we have come to realise that conservation and development are not mutually exclusive. The Rio Summit in 1992 made it clear that the environment and development can and should be brought together. The result is the concept of “sustainable development”.

In URDAIBAI too there have been doubts and uncertainties: the predominant opinion was once that the Biosphere Reserve should centre exclusively on nature and that this would constrain the development of the local towns.

However the main objective of the act under which URDAIBAI was set up is "to protect all fauna, flora and ecosystems in this area and to encourage their recovery, bearing in mind their special significance in natural, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and socio-economic terms". Development is therefore clearly envisaged in the act.

The act also established specific instruments for guaranteeing development in URDAIBAI One such instrument is the PADAS (Plan for the Harmonisation and Development of Socio-economic Activities), which has been chosen as the basis for a Local Agenda 21 scheme for the URDAIBAI Biosphere Reserve.

1. A rural space developed on a multifunctional basis in terms of production, marketing, training, employment, the role of women in farming work, sustainable management of natural resources and in general all things that affect the quality of life in a rural environment, specifically:
   
   
   
   • an area with natural values that are maintained and enhanced;
   • a rural environment that must become more attractive to residents and more prosperous;
   • food and fishery products most of the value added from which remains in the local rural economy.
     
     
2. Industry that is competitive and environmentally friendly, that is making progress in sustainable production modes and is capable of generating employment and preferably recovering environmentally degraded areas.
   
   
3. A tourist industry that is making progress especially in terms of management, structure and promotion outside the area, is capable of attracting visitors who take on board the duly identified values of URDAIBAI and produces economic benefits in terms of jobs.
   
   
4. An area with a good transport system, where existing infrastructures (ports, railways, roads, tracks, power supplies) are optimised and reinforced with a view to attracting activities suited to the model of development envisaged in the Directives for Land Use and the Territorial Sectoral Plan for Land Use in Economic Activities, integrated internally and externally with surrounding areas.
   
   
5. An area where the best possible use is made of resources and efforts, and there is the closest possible co-ordination between public authorities and private bodies.