World Environment Day, 5 June 2021.
A great day for the Global Geoparks UNESCO, the environment and ecotourism
The government's plan to protect and promote the natural environment, as a «vehicle» for green growth that promotes soft tourism, was presented on Saturday 5 June 2021, World Environment Day, from Mikro Papigo on the outskirts of Tymfi and within the recognised by the UNESCO Vikos-Aoos UNESCO Global Geopark, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, George Amyras and the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sophia Zacharaki.
The two Deputy Ministers were accompanied in the Regional Unit of Ioannina by the General Secretary for Natural Environment and Water, Constantine Aravosis, the Secretary-General for Energy and Raw Materials, Alexandra Sdoukou, The President of the Organisation for Natural Environment and Climate Change (ONPEC), Maria Papadopoulou and the Managing Director of OFYPEKA, Kostas Triantis, while the event held in Papigo was also attended by the Regional Governor of Epirus, Mr. Alexandros Cachrimanis, The Mayor of Zagori Mr. Georgios Sukovelos, as well as Mr. George Theoharis, Director of Development of Epirus SA and Mr. Charitakis Papaioannou, Coordinator of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark - Epirus Development SA.
Upon the conclusion of the event, the two deputy ministers and their entourage visited the Vikos-Aoos Geopark Information Centre in Megalo Papigo and were informed about the particular values of the Geopark and, overall, about the actions and efforts being made at a global level for the UNESCO Global Geoparks.
It is noted that for the first time, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, together with the HFC-PC (Hellenic Wildlife Protection and Management Centre), recognise the importance and significance of the five Greek UNESCO Global Geoparks, and as a result, henceforth, they will support the actions for the protection, promotion, and advancement of these areas through the utilisation of various financial instruments and resources.
«UNESCO Global Geoparks» are the third category of areas to receive recognition from UNESCO, following World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. As of 2020, 161 sites from 44 countries have been included in the «UNESCO Global Geoparks» programme, including five areas in Greece. These areas can be exploited and promoted internationally as sites of international significance for their geological and natural heritage, and can also serve as destinations for sustainable development.
At the heart of the country's sustainable tourism development are also the protected areas of the Natura 2000 network, through the promotion of ecotourism and alternative forms of tourism. To this end, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Tourism, dianeosis, and the HFCPA for the formulation of the National Strategic Plan for the Organisation and Development of Tourism in the Natura 2000 network areas and the design of a series of actions aimed at their promotion. The objective is to upgrade the planned and implemented public policy, with scientific documentation and support, as the protected areas in recent years, with the rise of alternative forms of tourism (ecotourism, rural tourism, adventure tourism), constitute a significant point of attraction for visitors from Greece and abroad.
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Energy announced the inclusion in the Recovery Fund of the creation of a national network of hiking trails and paths across the country, the restoration of terraces (dry stone walls), the creation and upgrading of museum spaces for the natural history of Greece, the digitisation of collections, as well as the creation of a national monitoring system for species, habitats and protected areas.
