The Greenways Initiative from an Ecotourism Perspective Stories from Central and Eastern Europe Session: Innovative Approaches to Ecotourism and Conservation
Dominika Zaręba David Murphy Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development, Central & Eastern European Greenways program
WHO WE ARE?
Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development Since 1991 6 independent not-for-profit foundations • Support the grassroots • Work for environmental improvement and sustainable development • Regional scope, local impact
Our tools: •Small grants, technical assistance •Directed programming •Partnership brokering
Central & Eastern Europe in 1990 economic stagnation/decline at the end of the 1980s • chronic shortage of consumer and capital goods • inefficient macroeconomic structure • high material and energy intensity of GDP • declining life expectancy and high infant mortality • high level of industrial pollution • severe environmental degradation/health impacts and • social apathy and/or unrest against totalitarian system Positive legacies: • relatively good education and • preventive health care systems • desire for change • many untouched natural areas
Central & Eastern Europe in 2007 • • • • •
economic growth over 4% annually since 1994 dominant contribution to GDP from services (55-65%) increased average living standards (35-50%) extended life expectancy reduced infant mortality by 50%
• significant reduction in major types of pollution: -particulate matters (70-80%) -carbon dioxide (15-20%) - sulfur dioxide (over 60%) - nitrogen oxides (35-40%) - wastewater (35-40%)
WHAT IS THE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPEAN GREENWAYS PROGRAM?
Rossony Lepel Gdansk Minsk
Debrzno
Smilovichi
Szczecin
Dokudovo
Bialystok Warsaw Wroclaw Prague Krakow Lvov
Lesko
Brno
Snina
Banska Stiavnica
Vienna
Negresti-Oas
Ocna Sugatag
Budapest Gheorgheni
Miercurea Ciuc Osijek
Novi Sad
Teius Rosia Montana
Beograd Zlatibor Vrnjacka Banja
Rousse Kozloduy
Sofia Banya
Brashlian Mezek
Central & Eastern European Greenways program (CEG) • 1990s – first greenway activities in CEE inspired by American GWs • 2000 – funding of the CEG program • 2002 – membership at the European Greenways Association Today: • 8 long-distance greenways – crossborder • app. 20 local greenways • 6,500 km of eco-trails • shared set of criteria and principles
WHAT ARE GREENWAYS?
Green multifunctional corridors for non-motorized users/travellers
Heritage trails leading along linear green corridors, historic trade routes, rivers and railways
Trails managed by local people, providing a framework for community-based initiatives on heritage protection and interpretation
Natural corridors linking protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites
Signposted trails characterized by a leading theme or logo
Tourism products based on ecotourism and heritage tourism principles
Trails mobilizing local communities, leading from „person to person�
Greenways address principles of the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism • increase economic and social benefits for indigenous communities, • contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the cultural integrity of local communities, • raise environmental awareness of visitors.
STORIES FROM CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE – VIENNA GREENWAY (CZ – A)
Prague – Vienna Greenway CZ-A
•The oldest greenway in CEE •470 km •Promoting small historic towns, villages and rural areas located between two big well known cities
Prague – Vienna Greenway ecotourist and heritage product
• Greenways Travel Club - local tour operator based in South Moravia & the Friends of Czech Greenways in USA (guided and self-guided tours, special interest tours), TRAVEL FOR A CAUSE
• contributes 12% of its income to support Greenway projects
• Bicyclists Welcome certification
www.pragueviennagreenways.org www.prahawien.greenways.info www.visitgreenways.com
GREEN BICYCLE – EAST CARPATHIAN GREENWAY (PL, SK, UA)
Green Bicycle – East Carpathian Greenway PL-SK-UA
•Cross-border initiative of three countries – app. 900 km, with main backbone of 105 km •Based on the East Carpathians Biosphere Reserve •Network of communitybased initiatives related to ecotourism and heritage
Green Bicycle – East Carpathian Greenway
•Not only cycling – hiking, tour skiing, horse-back riding, narrow gauge railway •Bieszczady Center for Active Tourism – social enterprise selling ecotourist products certified with a GB logo
Green Bicycle – East Carpathian Greenway
•Handicraft workshops, tasting of local food •Local products brand „Hand made in Bieszczady” •Eco-schools on Green Bicycle
MORAVIAN WINE TRAILS (CZ)
Moravian Wine Trails, CZ
•1250 km through orchards, vineyards and wine cellars
Moravian Wine Trails
•10,000 small vineyards •280 wine growing municipalities •250,000 visitors annually
Moravian Wine Trails
•Support for small vintners and viniculture – training, networking •Preservation of landscape and rural architecture
ODER RIVER TRAIL (PL)
Oder River Trail
•Cycling and canoeing along the big river •Linking protected areas and wildlife refuges •Local products and ecomuseums
AMBER TRAIL GREENWAY (HU, SK, PL)
Amber Trail Greenway Budapest - Krakow
•Heritage and ecotourism along historical trade route discovered during the Roman Empire
LOCAL GREENWAYS IN ROMANIA Mineral Water Trail (RO)
www.greenways.ro
Mineral Water Trail (RO)
•Eastern Carpathians, post volcanic region with 2000 sparkling mineral water sources •6 mineral water spas rebuilt along the greenway
LOCAL GREENWAYS IN BULGARIA Sheinovets Greenway (BG)
Sheinovets Greenway (BG)
•Eastern Rodopi Mountains Walking trail (3 hours) •Connects Tracian tomb with a Roman fortress and ends on Sheinovets peak (BulgarianTurkish-Greek border) •Strong support of local communities and municipalities •Future – wine trail
GREENWAYS TOWARDS EASTERN EUROPE BELARUS
Greenways in Belarus
70 eco-agrotourism farms
Blue Necklace of Rossony Greenway
First greenway in Belarus, started in 2005
Blue Necklace of Rossony
•200 km •Local partnership coalition •2 protected areas •organic food, wooden „Russian” sauna and homemade atmosphere
Greenways in Belarus
www.greenways.by www.ruralbelarus.by
Greenways and Ecotourism are about • making a difference • telling stories of a place („people to people” tourism) • implementing dreams about sustainable world
We invite you to visit Central Eastern European Greenways!
Photos: Dominika Zaręba Richard Nebesky Stanisław StrzyŜewski