DevelopmentDevelopment of of Ecotouristic Ecotouristic Activities Activities in in the the BalkanBalkan Botanic Botanic Garden Garden of of Kroussia Kroussia and and the the surrounding surrounding areas areas Oikonomou Andreas12 , Maloupa Eleni , Fotakis Dimitrios 2 , Adamidis Vasilios 2 1. School of Pedagogical and Technological Education and NGO “Friends of the Balkan Flora” 2. National Agricultural Research Foundation - Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia e-mail: [email protected]
FYROM BULGARY
B E E S I N The participants were involved in L M U T A a set of different activities (round O N table discussions, creative workshops, experiential games, field visits, eco-paths DOIRANI KERKINI and cultural evenings). One of the major targets of the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia LAKE LAKE is the development of ecotouristic activities in the Garden itself, as well as in the surrounding areas. STRIMONAS RIVER Having in mind that over the past years the nearby / villages are declining in population and overall SERRES development due to domestic urban pull and BBGK immigration, ecotourism can be an interesting BBGK alternative in order for this situation to reverse. /KILKIS One action towards that direction is the hosting of the Youth Exchange Program “Culture and Biodiversity: Paths without Frontiers”. The Program lasted for 9 days with the participation of 45 persons, 38 trainees aged 18-25, and their trainers.
Alexander the Great PELLA
Aristoteles STAGIRA
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The Garden served as an “ecotouristic circle center” that included activities at the Doirani Lake, the Beles Mountain, the Strimonas River and the Kerkini Wetland. The main subject axes of those activities were: Culture, Water and Biodiversity. M The evaluation of the Program by both the participants and the LY P O US organizers, concluded that the potential for further ecotouristic development in the area is good, and highlighted the issues that require further study.
DOIRANI LAKE KERKINI LAKE ERS ECOTO Conditions AT URI Conditions Trans boundary lake W SM Ramsar convention on wetlands Many stakeholders Natura 2000 Old way of fishing Rich bird fauna Richest lake with fish in whole Europe Many stakeholders Gradual emptying BALKAN BOTANIC Activities GARDEN OF KROUSSIA Activities Transboundary water workshop Integrated Water Resources Conditions Management workshop EU Water framework directive Garden of the senses conversation Field visit Natural oak forest Field visit Rowing Biodiversity path Water quality tests Water quality tests Adventure path Role play Cultural evening Educational garden Aromatic-medicinal /Water loving / Sub-alpine species THESSALONIKI SERRES Activities Conditions Conditions Experiential games LCaboratory of onservation Engraving workshop Beles Mountain andEN valuation of ative and Strimonas River Floricultural species Eco-paths Traditional architecture, bridges, Center of Research and Education Round table discussion handicrafts Plant nursery Presentation of material collected Museums on cultural and biodiversity issues Activities Activities Lecture on pharmaceutical plants & herbs Eco-path
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