The Greenways initiative from an ecotourism perspective. Stories from Central and Eastern Europe

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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


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