Deliverables

LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete participated in the "Feast of the Earth", which took place in Arkalochori between 30 June and 2 July, 2018. On the afternoon of 30 June, a floor game and a animal mask workshop were held for the children of the region, which were distributed hats and t-shirts of the program. Throughout the Feast, visitors could see part of the project photo exhibition and were provided with the LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete information material.

On the 26th of April, 2018, at the onset of the new tourist season, an open event on the “Natural Environment and Conservation of Chrysi island” took place at the Exhibition of Natural History Museum of Crete - University of Crete (Sofokli Venizelou Av., Iraklion).

The whole Chrysi island (also known as Gaidouronisi) has been designated as a NATURA2000 area, since it hosts a wide range of protected habitat types and flora & fauna species. Thanks to its natural beauty, it is a top destination for the inhabitants and visitors of Crete. Unfortunately, its touristic exploitation is out of control, despite the fact than clear management strategy and practices have been suggested by NHMC.

The program of the event:

17.45-18.00: Registration

18.00-18.30: View of the LIFE Natura2000Value Crete documentary «Natura 2000: Life for all» 

18.30-19.00: "NATURA2000 network and the Natural Environment of Chrysi island"- Panagiotis Georgiakakis, NHMC

19.00-19.30: "Special Environmental Study of the Island of Chrysi: What has to be done this summer period" – Michalis Dretakis, ΜΦΙΚ

A training seminar for professionals involved in tourism took place at the cultural center of Marmaketo, in Lasithi plateau in the 24th and 25th of March, 2018.

The Seminar was organized by the Natural History Museum of Crete (University of Crete) with the support of the Municipality of Lassithi Plateau. It aimed to improve the capacity of tourism professionals (mountain and tour guides, apartment  owners etc) on simplifying the notion of the contribution of biodiversity and ecosystem services to the human well-being and sharing it with tourists and visitors in NATURA 2000 sites in Crete.

Under the framework of the LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete Program, the University Crete-Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) in collaboration with the Cultural Association of Gonies Pediados and the Association for the Protection and Welfare of Wildlife, "ANIMA", organized an Open Event for the Protected Areas included in NATURA 2000 Network.

The Agenda:

Three training seminars for the students of the educational institutions of Crete took place between 22 and 24, May, 2017.

The seminars were held at the premises of the Technical University of Crete (May 22), University of Crete (Voutes campus, Heraklion, May 23) and Gallos campus, Rethymno (University of Crete, May 24). The aim of the seminars was to inform students about issues related to the environment (ecosystems, fauna and flora, biodiversity, protected areas of the NATURA 2000 network and their importance to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of the local communities).

he three-day Banana Festival tool place in Arvi, Municipality of Viannos on 11-13 of August 2017. Co-organisers were the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Viannos, the Association of banana producers of Crete and the Agricultural Association of vegetable producers of Arvi.

It constitutes the first Pancretan Banana Festival with the aim of establishing this event as a constitution in the area where banana trees are cultivated in a great extent. Through the Festival an effort was made to promote a high-quality product, inform people on the cultivation methods and at the same time, participate in cultural events, photo exhibition, guided tour through banana tree crops, musical events, while during the festivities, visitors were treated various banana delicacies.

The project LIFE Natura2000 Value Crete participated in the Festival with an information kiosk and a presentation dedicated to the ecosystem services coming from wildlife on Friday the 11th of August 2017.

The 7th Food Tasting Festival that took place in Sivas village was successfully completed. Hosts of the event were the Cultural Association “Themos Kornaros” and the Network of Mesara Associations. The main thematic sections of the festival were local cuisine, traditional Cretan recipes, and various combinations of tastes, as well as local arts and crafts. Traditional food and delicacies were offered to the visitors.

In the context of the communication strategy of the project "LIFE Natura2000Value Crete", the University of Crete - Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC), in collaboration with the Municipality of Siteia  organised a workshop entitled: "NATURA 2000 Sites: Chance or obstacle for the development?". The workshop took place on Tuesday, the 11th of July 2017, at the City Hall of Siteia at 18.30 p.m.

The workshop of the project LIFE Natura2000Value Crete took place in Heraklion, Municipality of Heraklion on the 24th of June 2017 and it is the 13th 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: Ally or enemy of the social prosperity?" with the aim of informing the public with regards to the NATURA 2000 sites at European, national and local level, the legal framework that governs them  and the degree of citizens' compliance with it, the socio-economic benefits provided by nature and wildlife, the funding opportunities in the primary sector, as well as an example of connection between nature and tourism through the promotion of traditional products by tourist enterprises.