The Greenways Initiative from an Ecotourism Perspective Stories from Central and Eastern Europe Dominika Zaręba David Murphy Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development, Central & Eastern European Greenways program Session: Innovative Approaches to Ecotourism and Conservation
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The Greenways initiative from an ecotourism perspective. Stories from Central and Eastern Europe
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The Greenways Initiative from an Ecotourism Perspective
Stories from Central and Eastern Europe
Dominika Zaręba
David Murphy
Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development, Central & Eastern European Greenways program
Session: Innovative Approaches to Ecotourism and Conservation
WHO WE ARE?
Since 1991
6 independent not-for-profit foundations
• Support the grassroots
• Work for environmental improvement and sustainable development
• Regional scope, local impact
Our tools:•Small grants, technical assistance
•Directed programming
•Partnership brokering
Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development
Central & Eastern Europe in 1990
economic stagnation/decline at the end of the 1980s
• chronic shortage of consumer and capital goods
• inefficient macroeconomic structure
• high material and energy intensity of GDP
• declining life expectancy and high infant mortality
• high level of industrial pollution
• severe environmental degradation/health impacts and
• social apathy and/or unrest against totalitarian system
Positive legacies:
• relatively good education and
• preventive health care systems
• desire for change
• many untouched natural areas
• economic growth over 4% annually since 1994
• dominant contribution to GDP from services (55-65%)
• increased average living standards (35-50%)
• extended life expectancy
• reduced infant mortality by 50%
• significant reduction in
major types of pollution:
-particulate matters (70-80%)
-carbon dioxide (15-20%)
- sulfur dioxide (over 60%)
- nitrogen oxides (35-40%)
- wastewater (35-40%)
Central & Eastern Europe in 2007
WHAT IS THE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPEAN GREENWAYS PROGRAM?
Vienna
Prague
Krakow
Warsaw
Budapest
Miercurea Ciuc
Brno
Banska Stiavnica
Lvov
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Gdansk
Minsk
Lepel
Rossony
Novi Sad
Beograd
Sofia
OsijekRosia Montana
Teius
Gheorgheni
Ocna SugatagNegresti-Oas
DokudovoSmilovichi
MezekBanya
Rousse
Kozloduy
Brashlian
Lesko
Snina
Zlatibor
Vrnjacka Banja
Bialystok
Debrzno
Central & Eastern European Greenways program (CEG)
• 1990s – first greenway activities in CEE inspired by American GWs
• 2000 – funding of the CEG program
• 2002 – membership at the European Greenways Association
Today:
• 8 long-distance greenways – cross-border
• app. 20 local greenways
• 6,500 km of eco-trails
• shared set of criteria and principles
WHAT ARE GREENWAYS?
Green multifunctional corridorsfor non-motorizedusers/travellers
Heritage trails leading along linear green corridors, historic trade routes, rivers and railways
Trails managed by local people, providing a framework for community-based initiatives on heritage protection and interpretation
Natural corridors linking protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites
Signposted trails characterized by a leading theme or logo
Tourism products based on ecotourism and heritage tourism principles
Trails mobilizing local communities, leading from„person to person”
Greenways address principles of the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism
• increase economic and social benefits for indigenous communities,
• contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the cultural integrity of local communities,
• raise environmental awareness of visitors.
STORIES FROM CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE – VIENNA GREENWAY (CZ – A)
Prague – Vienna Greenway CZ-A
•The oldest greenway in CEE
•470 km
•Promoting small historic towns, villages and rural areas located between two big well known cities
• Greenways Travel Club - local tour operator based in South Moravia & the Friends of Czech Greenways in USA (guided and self-guided tours, special interest tours), TRAVEL FOR A CAUSE
• contributes 12% of its income to support Greenway projects
• Bicyclists Welcome certification
Prague – Vienna Greenway ecotourist and heritage product