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News Release: World Environment Day οrganised by the Municipality of Heraklion and the Natural History Museum of Crete
Celebrating World Environment Day is highly valued by the United Nations, as it contributes to the raising of awareness considering environmental issues. It also promotes action-taking as it instills environmental consciousness to the citizens and the institutions in order to maintain, improve and protect the environment.
On the occasion of the World Environment Day (5th of June), the Department of Environment of the Municipality of Heraklion and the University of Crete - Natural History Museum of Crete, will co-organise a series of events in the Loggia on Tuesday, the 6th of June, 2017.
This year’s events are dedicated to the campaign to reduce consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags (European Directive 2015/720).
News Release: Celebration of LIFE Programme and Natura 2000 Network at Lefka Ori Mt., Chania
The University of Crete - Natural History Museum of Crete celebrated the European Natura 2000 Day, as well as 25 years since the beginning of the LIFE Programme, on Sunday the 21st of May 2017.
Participation of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete in the EU LIFE Platform meeting "COSTING THE EARTH? - translating the ecosystem services concept into practical decision making”
On the 10th to the 12th of May 2017, the EU LIFE Programme, together with LIFE Viva Grass project held an Ecosystem Services Platform meeting entitled “COSTING THE EARTH? - translating the ecosystem services concept into practical decision making”. The project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete participated in the meeting and the Project Coordinator, Dr. Michalis Probonas presented the completed and the forthcoming actions of the communication strategy.
Information on the meeting
News Release: Organisation of a workshop by the project ''LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete'' in the Municipality of Gortyna, 10th of May 2017
The workshop of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete took place in Agioi Deka, Municipality of Gortyna on the 10th of May 2017 and it is the 11th of a series of 24 workshops which will be held in all of the Municipalities of Crete in the context of the project's actions. Topic covered in the workshop was ''NATURA 2000 sites: Opportunity or obstacle for the development?" with the aim of informing the public concerning the NATURA 2000 sites at national and local level and the socio-economic benefits provided by nature and wildlife. In addition, attendants were given the chance to discuss issues the local community deals with, and exchange ideas on suitable solutions and investment opportunities in the area. During the workshop, the new documentary of the project was presented to the attendants who discussed its content with the scientists of NHMC.
News Release: European day for the NATURA 2000 Network and the LIFE's 25th Anniversary
Τhe University of Crete – Natural History Museum of Crete (UoC – NHMC), Coordinating Beneficiary of the projects LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete (LIFE13 INF/GR/000188) and LIFE Natura Themis (LIFE14/GIE/GR/000026), in cooperation with its Associated Beneficiaries, the Management Body of the Samaria National Park (the only Management Body of a protected area existing in Crete) and the Hellenic Wildlife Care Association ANIMA, will celebrate the European day for the NATURA 2000 Network and the LIFE's 25th Anniversary, on Sunday, May 21, 2017.
The event, which is entitled: “EUROPEAN DAY FOR NATURA 2000 NETWORK IN CRETE”, will take place in the plateau of Omalos (protected area of the NATURA 2000 Network in Lefka Ori, Crete, Greece) and includes the following actions: a) release of wild birds, b) demonstration by the Cretan Canine Team Against Poisoned Baits (an action under the “Innovative Actions Against Poisoned Baits – After-LIFE project” that NHMC implements), c) documentary screening about the ecosystem services and photo exhibition with photos of Cretan landscapes and Cretan NATURA 2000 sites (produced by the LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete project), and d) creative activities for children.
News Release: LIFE Natura2000Value Crete participated in the ‘’Festival of seeds and self-sufficiency’’ at Pyrgos-Municipality of Faistos, on the 30th of April 2017
The Social Cooperative Corporation “Melitakes”, with the support of the Municipality of Archanes & Asterousia, the Cultural Associations of Doraki, Mournia, Charakas, Paranymfoi, Pretoria, Prinias, Pyrgos, the elementary school and high school of Pyrgos and the parish of Pyrgos, hosted the ‘’Festival of seeds and self-sufficiency’’ at Charakas and Pyrgos, the 29th and 30th of April 2017 respectively. The programme of the festival included presentations, discussion, exchange of seeds, information kiosks, kiosks for the promotion of local products, children’s activities and celebration of the event with traditional Cretan music and delicacies.
The Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) participated in the festival on Sunday, the 30th of April 2017 both with information kiosk and presentation. Stavros Xirouchakis, Dr. Biologist-Ornithologist, informed the attendants of the benefits provided by wildlife towards human societies, also noting the contribution of ecotourism and bird-watching tourism. NHMC scientists talked with people attending the festival and distributed leaflets, informative guides and posters of the communication strategy of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete, having been implemented by UOC-NHMC since 2014.
LIFE Platform Meeting on Ecosystem Services
Ecosystems provide countless and essential benefits for humanity, such as food, clean water and clean air. Assigning financial values to ecosystem services - and incorporating them into land management and decision-making process concerning conservation issues - can complement traditional approaches to the prevention of biodiversity loss.
The European Commission’s LIFE Programme unit and the Baltic Environmental Forum, with the support of the Neemo EEIG External Team, are organising a LIFE platform meeting on ecosystem services in Tallinn (Estonia) on 10-12 May 2017 that will showcase a variety of restoration techniques, innovative approaches to the improvement of our knowledge and understanding of ecosystem services, new initiatives in environmental management and governance challenges.
News Release: Three information booklets of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete are printed and being distributed for free to the public
In the context of the Action C.1 ("Printed Communication Material: Booklets") 3 booklets were prepared in order to inform people who live and do business inside or close to a NATURA 2000 site in Crete, as well as visitors and tourists, about the ecological, social and economic value of services and benefits that agroecosystems, mountainous and coastal ecosystems provide.
News Release: Organisation of workshop entitled: ''NATURA 2000 sites: Opportunity or obstacle for the development?" at Anogeia, on the 7th of April 2017
The workshop of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete took place in Anogeia, Municipality of Anogeia on the 7th of April 2017 and it is the 10th of a series of 24 workshops which will be held in all of the Municipalities of Crete in the context of the project's actions. Topic covered in the workshop was ''NATURA 2000 sites: Opportunity or obstacle for the development?" with the aim of informing the public concerning the NATURA 2000 sites at national and local level and the socio-economic benefits provided by nature and wildlife.
News Release: LIFE Natura2000Value Crete participated in a local festival organised by the Cultural Association of Skalani, on Saturday the 8th of April 2017
The project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete, in the context of the Action C.13 ("Public awareness raising activities: Participation in local festivals"), took part in a local festival organized by the Cultural Association of Skalani, entitled: “Legends & truths about Cretan animals & plants”, on Saturday the 8th of April 2017. Scientists from the University of Crete - Natural History Museum of Crete presented the Cretan biodiversity and its special features. After the presentation, the new documentary of the project depicting Natura 2000 (N2K) Network in Crete and the ecosystem services derived from the protected areas was shown. The attendants were provided with printed communication material of the project (posters, leaflets, informative guides on the ecosystem services of agroecosystems-mountainous & coastal areas within N2K Network in Crete, t-shirts). The event was brought to a conclusion with a discussion between the scientists and the participants.