Cooperation Offer

Parks Protection III - Management, Protection and Economic Development in Protected Areas

Offer name: 
Parks Protection III - Management, Protection and Economic Development in Protected Areas
Expiry date: 
01/03/2017
Offering LAG: 
Development Agency of Parnonas S.A. (Parnonas S.A.)
Country:
  • Greece
Spoken languages:
  • Griego - Inglés

Looking to cooperate with

Country(ies):
  • Unión Europea
Type of area:
  • National / Regional borders, Inland, Island, Lakes & rivers, Coastal, Mountainous, Historic centre, Rural, Sea basin
Assets of the area:
  • High Nature Value, Pasture, Forest, Protected areas

Project idea

Project type:
    • Transnational cooperation
    • Cross - border cooperation
Project topic:
    • Research & Development
    • New technologies
    • Forestry
    • Tourism / Territorial branding
    • Natural environment & Resources / Landscape
Additional keywords:
  • Youth
Context: 

The project «PARKS PROTECTION III» constitutes an evaluation of the transnational project «PARKS PROTECTION II», which was implemented during the previous program of LEADER (2007-2013).
The activities that were implemented in the previous program are following:
 Educational weeks – one per each region, including workshops on thematic categories as follows:
- Forest botany: habitat types, systematic botany, rare flora, protection of biodiversity.
- Landscape ecology: uses of land, Mediterranean landscape, desertification
- Wildlife: endangered species, preserve fauna and habitats.
- Management and eco-development of protected areas: protected areas, national parks, ecotourism, agro-tourism, sustainable management, ecological networks.
 Tool box: tools, guides, maps, educational paths along characteristic places of protected areas, material on implementing educational weeks.
 Promotion of the project: presentation events, contact with universities and research institutions, brochures, publications on websites.

Project idea summary: 

The purpose of the project is the coexistence of human civilization and nature and linking of environmental education with the alternative tourism through the requirements of sustainable development. Tourism can serve as a bridge between economic development, protection and conservation of the environment. Tourism and environment (social, cultural and natural) are interrelated and together provide a sustainable economic base while creating "green" consciousness in the economy.
The project seeks, through the management and landscape conservation of protected areas and conservation of timeless cultural wealth (local dialect, traditions, local products, etc.), further environmental and cultural development of partner regions. The coexistence of these elements ensures the conditions characterizing a region as a Biosphere Reserve. Areas that are defined as biosphere reserves are those of harmonious coexistence of human with nature through the conservation of natural resources and civilization.
Cooperation partners of the project may be carriers of national and / or international dimension and action with experience in the management, protection, promotion and development of local resources. At the same time, they should be active in areas of protected environmental zones.
It is worth noting that the European Network for Rural Development evaluating all actions of Transnational Project «PARKS PROTECTION II", which took place in the previous programming period 2007-2013 , presented the plan as an example of good practice in the official page of the Network. This is the best evidence for the importance of utilizing the experience and exchange of know-how gained from implementing environmental interesting activities through the continuation and upgrading of transnational plan in the next programming period 2014-2020.

Objectives: 

The objectives of the project are the following:
 Awareness and training on issues concerning conservation and promotion of natural, cultural and productive reserve of partner regions.
 Information and awareness about the value of protected areas, by developing modern tools, such as creating multiple application (Apps) for smartphones and tablets, which would act as an information channel for visitors, management bodies, experts, tourists, students, etc.
 Strengthening of the perspective on tourism development for special interest and trekkingcultural tourism as well.
 Financial and human development based on the Primary sector (production, processing, marketing and final cultural footprint) and Tourism (Ecotourism, Alternative tourism).
The proposed activities of the project are the following:
 Design and preparation of educational programs
 Organization and implementation of educational programs in the partner’s regions
 Tool Box (electronic applications, routes, eco-games, tools, maps, material from the realization of educational programs).
 Communication and diffusion of the project and its results.