News Release: Organising of workshop on the ''NATURA 2000 sites: Opportunity or obstacle for the development?'' in Rethimno

A workshop of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete took place in the city of Rethimno on the 28th of July 2016. Topic covered in the workshop was ''NATURA 2000 sites: Opportunity or obstacle for the development?" with the aim of informing people of the value of the NATURA 2000 sites, their designation as sites with great developmental potential, as well as the presentation of ideas and examples for the proper exploitation of the protected land, with respect to the natural environment. It is the third of a series of 26 workshops which will be held in all of the Municipalities of Crete in the context of the project's actions.

The workshop was hosted at "Spiti tou Politismou". It lasted 2 hours and the turnout was about 20 people. Representatives of the Municipality and various bodies and authorities, journalists, school teachers, students, farmers and pensioners participated in the event. 

The presentations framing the workshop designated the NATURA 2000 sites on a European, national and local level and focused on the protected areas characterising the Municipality hosting the event. The main topic covered was the ecosystem services. More specifically, the following issues were addressed: benefits wildlife offers to people, ecotourism, as an emerging professional and scientific domain, which combines the purposes of tourism with the protection of biodiversity and the designation of the local products and values. During the workshops and at the conclusion of them, the speakers were at the disposal of the participants to clarify anything and answer to various questions. 

The participants were provided with a folder containing printed communication material of the project (leaflet, sticker, schedule of the workshop), t-shirt and hat. 

The schedule of the workshop was the following:

• 18.00-18.20: Arrival - registration 
• 18.20-18.30: Greetings
• 18.30-18.45: Michalis Promponas, Physicist - Environmental Scientist, PhD (University of Crete – Natural History Museum of Crete): "NATURA 2000 Network of Protected Areas in the European Union, Greece and Crete"
• 18.45-19.00: Tania Ploumi, Environmentalist MSc (University of Crete – Natural History Museum of Crete): "Socio-economic benefits from the Natural Environment" 
• 19.00-19.10: Coffee break
• 19.10-19.25: Roula Trigkou, Forester MSc, Senior Conservation Communication Officer, Hellenic Ornithological Society: "Ecotourism in Natura 2000 sites: opportunities, possibilities and requirements"
• 19.25-19.40: Stavros Xirouchakis, Biologist - Ornithologist, PhD (University of Crete – Natural History Museum of Crete): "Ecosystem services of Wildlife" 
• 19.40-20.00: Questions - open discussion

Two more workshops are foreseen at the end of August in Municipalities of Chania and Rethimno.