PROJECT: Development of interpretation infrastructures in Lake Doirani and increase capacity building of local communities. TRAINING SEMINAR Capacity building for the organization and operation of environmental infrastructures Doirani, 24 October 2007 & Kerkini, 25 October 2007 MINUTES OF THE SEMINAR In the context of the project «Development of interpretation infrastructures in Lake Doirani and increase capacity building of local communities», which is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Development Cooperation Department (ΥΔΑΣ) and is materialized by the Greek Biotope/ Wetland Centre (ΕΚΒΥ), together with the Municipality of Dojran (FYROM), a Seminar titled «Capacity building for the organization and operation of environmental infrastructures» was organized on October 24th and 25th 2007 in the Museum of Lake Doirani and in the Information Centre of Lake Kerkini respectively. The objective of the seminar was the training of competent officers in the transboundary region of Greece and FYROM in order to strengthen the capacity building of environmental infrastructures at the region of lake Doirani and improve services provided. Representatives of public and local authorities, of environmental organizations from Greece and FYROM as well as civilians participated in the seminar. Spefically the seminar was attended by the following: Name Status Service Athanasiou Chrisoula Member Center of Environmental Information of Eleftherio-Kordelio Argiropoulos Savas Mayor Municipality of Muries Asteriou Marios Financial Management Management Authority of Koroni-Volvi Vagelinos Vasilis Chemical Engineer Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace Vareltzidou Stella Supervisor Management Authority of Delta Axiou Vatsou Anastasia Student Vatsou Sofia Housewife Ganidou Maria Chemical Biologist Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace Georgiadis Charilaos Farmer Gianouli Efthymia Manager Region of Central Macedonia Girbas Paschalis Resp. on Env. Education Management of First Grade education of Prefecture of Serres Dimitriadis Ioakim Surveyor Management Authority of Koroni-Volvi Dibalas George Vice Mayor Municipality of Doirani Drabatzis Dimitris Member Environmental Initiative of Kilkis Efthymiadis Paylos Commander Police Station of Doirani Zografidis George President Akrita Settlement Theodoroudi Eleftheria Project member EKBY Kakouros Petros Project member EKBY Kalpakidis George Mayor Municipality of Doirani Karabatsou Melpomeni Member «Doviros» Society of Friends of L. Doirani Karta Evangelia Secretary Management Authority of Koroni-Volvi Karta Chrysi Merchant Katrana Eva Resp. for Natural Resources Management Authority of Axios Delta Katsakiori Maria Project Manager EKBY Ketikoglou Chrisoula Partner G. Floridis, Member of Parliament Office in Kilkis Kornilakis Stylianos Member Fishing Cooperation of Doirani Kosmidou Despina Town Councillor Municipality of Doirani Konstantinidis Kostas Member Environmental Initiative of Kilkis Margelos George Employee Region of Central Macedonia Michailidis Ioannis Ichtyologist Prefecture of Kilkis Mourouzidis Vice Mayor Municipality of Doirani Balaskas Evagelos Prefect Prefecture of Kilkis Blatsi Georgia Resp. on Env. Education First grade education service of Kilkis Pref. Boli Katerina Project member EKBY Moysidis Charalambos Special associate Municipality of Doirani Naziridis Thodoros Biologist Management Authority of Lake Kerkini Nasopoulou Themis Tour Guide Papadopoulos E. Town Councillor Municipality of Doirani Papadraga Lia Communication Officer Management Authority of Axios Delta Passalidis Pavlos President Anaptixiaki Kilkis Sa Raptis Nikos Section for the Environment Prefecture of Kilkis Samouilidis Lazaros Section for the Environment Prefecture of Kilkis Skoularika Mariana Tourism Section Prefecture of Kilkis Soulakis Nikos Architect Sirmo Michael Educator Center of Environmental Information of Eleftherio - Kordelio Sotiriadis Pantelis Member ADE Doirani Tsavdaroglou Fotini Forester Management Authority of Koronia-Volvi Yfantis George Educator Center of Environmental Information of Eleftherio-Kordelio Hatzilaskaraki An. Press Office The participants from FYROM were the following: Name Status Service Ajcev Zlatko Financial Management Municipality of Dojran Ajceva Milka Public Relations Municipality of Dojran Angelov George Interpreter Kačakov Darko Inspector Municipality of Dojran Kadiev Ljupčo Administrator Municipality of Dojran Mladenovska Biljana Social Worker Municipality of Dojran Stamova Valentina Historian Municipality of Dojran The following media representatives were present: Name Status Media Orfanidis Dimitris Publisher Machitis tou Kilkis, Imerisia, Radio Machitis Sofianou Evi Journalist APE - MPE Terzenidis Konstantinos Publisher IDISIS, PROINI In Detail: 1 st Training Session Wednesday 24.10.07 (12:00 – 14:30) –Lake Doirani Museum The seminar was inaugurated by Ms Maria Katsakiori (Head of Environmental Awareness and Education – EKBY – local project manager) who after presenting the aims, the objectives and the infrastructure of the training seminar (PowerPoint presentation is attached) spoke about the role of interpretation infrastructures in protected areas, through the example of Lake Doirani Museum. In her relative presentation entitled «The role of environmental infrastructures – The Lake Doirani Museum», presented a detailed description on the necessary role of the environmental interpretation infrastructures in citizent’s awareness as well as in the sustainable development of a region (attached is the Power Point presentation). She was followed by Ms Zoe Evagelopoulou (Architect of Tetragon Ltd) with her presentation entitled «The exhibition hall of Lake Doirani Museum formed by the inhabitants of the lake», which illustrated museological and museographical aspects of the planning and organizing of the exhibition of the Museum (attached is the Power Point presentation). Last Mr Zlatko Ajcev (financial management of Dojran Municipality) with his presentation titled «Information infrastructures at the Municipality of Dojran» referred to the infrastructures of welcoming and informing visitors which operate in the Municipality of Dojran. The 1st training session ended with discussion and exchange of fruitful opinions on topics regarding the development of the Lake as well as the enhancement of protected areas in general. 2nd Training Session Thursday, 25.10.07 (09:30 – 14:30) – Lake Kerkini Information Center The 2nd training session of the seminar began the next day with Ms Maria Katsakiori’s presentation titled «Visitors Management – Organisation and function of environmental interpretation infrastructures», who elaborated subjects regarding the visitors management of an ecologically sensitive area and analyzed the conditions and requirements for the organization and function of public awareness infrastructures in protected areas (attached is the Power Point presentation). Using the example of the Laki Kerkini Information Center, Mr Thodoros Naziridis (Member of the Lake Kerkini Management Authority) in his presentation titled «Conservation and promotion of Lake Kerkini – The key role of the Information Center» reffered to subjects regarding the management of Information Centres and their role in the environmental awareness and the sustainable tourist development of an area (attached is the Power Point presentation). After a short break, Ms Chrisoula Athanasiou (Environmental Information Center of Eleftherio- Kordelio) gave a presentation titled: «Principals of planning environmental education activities – projects as protected areas, towards sustainability», subject of which were the basic principles and the methodology on which the planning and materialization of educational programmes in ecologically sensitive areas is based (attached is the Power Point presentation). The last presentation of the 2nd training session of the seminar was given by Ms Themida Nasopoulou (Wetlands and National Forests Guide) titled «Planning guided tours at protected areas», which focused on organizing tours in protected area as well as their positive impact on a mild tourist development (see attached Power Point presentation). At the end of the 2nd training session there was time for discussion and questions. The participants were mainly interested on matters of enhancing and monitoring ecologically sensitive areas and focused on subjects referring to planning and applying relevant actions and projects based on their experience. 3 rd Training Session Thursday, 25.10.07 (15:00 – 17:30) – Lake Kerkini The third training session was an educational tour at selected tourist facilities of Laki Kerkini. The participants had the opportunity to have a close look of some examples of good practice for the development of tourism. They visited the facilities of «Ikoperiigitis», which consists of a guesthouse, restaurant with local food and infrastructures for ecotourism activities (walking tour of the lake, birdwatching, canoeing, cycling etc). The second stop was at «Elodia» next to lake Kerkini, a complex which provides the visitor various ecotourism activities and food services. The seminar concluded with an educational guided tour by boat on lake Kerkini, where using binoculars the participants had the opportunity to watch the waterfowl, and experience the importance of the natural wealth of a protected area for the development of the local community, as well as to discuss in vito the application of the touring and guiding techniques in the wetland areas..