ECOCLUB, Issue 91
15
Luckily, many members of the NATR team will continue
working in the area under a new ecotour company called
Andaman Discoveries
Europe
Greece: ‘Summer Academy’ on Culture & Sustainable
Rural Development.
The Euracademy Association (Web:
Academy on "Culture and Sustainable Rural Development"
to be held in the city of Chania, Crete, Greece, from 17-
26th August 2007. The Summer Academy will take place
at the facilities of MAICH, the Mediterranean Agronomic
Institute of Chania (MAICH) and will build on the
experience of the successful previous Summer Academies
in Sweden (2002), Greece (2003), Poland (2004), Finland
(2005) and Hungary (2006). The 6th Summer Academy
aims to discuss the role of culture and cultural heritage in
the sustainable development of rural areas. The Academy
will explore such topics as: Rural heritage, contemporary
culture, sustainable development, the role of rural
museums, tourism as a channel of preserving and
promoting rural heritage, research and documentation of
rural heritage, planning with a focus on cultural heritage.
The Summer Academy should be of interest to museum
staff, managers of cultural activities, members of cultural
associations, researchers, professionals of ethnography,
history and art, teachers, policy makers, managers and
animators of rural development. The deadline for
applications is June 30, 2007. For more information, please
under Summer Academies.
Ireland: Greenbox a finalist in the Tourism for
Tomorrow Awards
of four finalists at this years Tourism for Tomorrow
Awards which were held in Lisbon, in early June. The
Greenbox is Ireland's first integrated ecotourism
destination. The area of the Greenbox includes Counties
Fermanagh, Leitrim, West Cavan, North Sligo, South
Donegal and North West Monaghan. Commenting on the
announcement, the Irish Minister for Arts, Sport &
Tourism John O'Donoghue, extended his congratulations
and noted "This is a very impressive achievement for the
Green Box. Despite being in existence for only 5 years, it
has earned recognition and prominence to the extent that it
can compete with long-time established world-renowned
destinations”
Malta: Heritage wins, Golf loses
The Maltese government has decided to turn the Xaghra l-
Hamra area into a heritage park instead of a golf course as
originally planned. The area is rich in endemic and
endangered species, as well as boasting over 100
archaeological sites including cart ruts. "With Malta's
essential water supplies dwindling rapidly, the enormous
water demands of a golf course would have been totally
unsustainable." said a representative of 'Gaia', while
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), another local NGO ,
welcomed the decision to resume farmers' leases, that is
hoped to encourage initiatives such as organic farming
projects. FAA and Gaia will both play a part in the
management of the new heritage park. Heavily dependent
on tourism , which accounts for 24% of the country's GNP,
Malta has been a tourist destination since the 1950's. Rapid
and unstructured tourism development in rural areas and
along sensitive coastal streches has adversely affected
ecological habitats, and accompanied by illegal dumping
and littering. The Tourism Authority of Malta has recently
undertaken a number of initiatives to improve
environmental and cultural aspects of the island, including
coastal and heritage tourism zone monitoring and an eco-
certification program for accommodation providers .
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