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I am honoured by your invitation to attend the inauguration of the Tourists' Information Centre (KEP) which aims to highlight the nature of the area, promote the environmental, cultural and historical elements and promote environmental sustainable tourism.
I congratulate the community of Trachypedoulas and especially the President of the Community Council Mr. Konstantinos Feraeus for this initiative as well as for many other relevant initiatives and actions of which I have been informed and which highlight the will of the authorities and residents for the sustainable development of the region which is a jewel for our country.
After the visit of my Office on May 12, 2024 and our tour of the KEP by the dear community leader Mr. Feraio, I believe that the centre will become a key nucleus for recording and disseminating knowledge about the environment and culture of the region.
During the Almond Festival in Salamiu in March, the current Coordinator of the Diarizo-Xeropotamos Valley Complex, Mr. Kostakis Avgusti expressed to me the interest and desire to be actively involved in the design of a Strategy for the development of the area and the promotion of its implementation, recognizing the need to promote sustainable economic development and at the same time the protection of biological and cultural diversity. Subsequently, further meetings were held with other Commonwealths in the region, during which it was agreed to take forward the process for the region to join the Global Biosphere Reserve Network.
The great challenge of the 21st century is to ensure healthy living conditions for over 9 billion people in a world of peace and sustainable development, in which economy, society and environment work together and are in such a sustainable balance that no sector lags behind or is degraded due to Biosphere Reserves relate to terrestrial and/or marine areas, which include important ecosystems, as well as societies that wish to combine the protection of ecosystems with their sustainable use.
More specifically, the objective of a Biosphere Reserve is the prospect of successfully combining the protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage (monuments, settlements, intangible heritage such as handicrafts, etc.).), the provision of non-polluting soft services such as responsible tourism - ecotourism (with activities such as hiking trails, cycling, birdwatching, nature and landscape study), the promotion of development activities (such as beekeeping, organic farming, cottage industries, product processing cooperatives and handicrafts) with a view to retaining and attracting the permanent population, and promoting the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local level.
The Diarizo and Xeropotamos Valleys, with their unique wealth of history, architecture and cultural heritage, their internationally researched geomorphology, environmental specificity, great biodiversity, rich vegetation and the presence of endemic bird species, natural beauty and local tradition, are an ideal case for their inclusion as a single area in this Global Network.
However, a site is not simply "declared" as a Biosphere Reserve. Its inclusion requires a series of concrete steps and actions, both at a practical level and at the level of commitment of local communities and support from the State.
The key criteria are to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems and biodiversity, to enhance economic and human development - socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable - and to support projects for environmental education and research on sustainable development issues at regional, national and global level.
K There are three distinct zones: a core area in which the ecosystem is maintained with minimal disturbance, a regulation zone around the core area, and finally a transition zone in which the majority of socio-economic uses of ecosystems take place, provided that a sustainable orientation is maintained.
In summary, the process starts with consultation with local communities for their commitment and involvement in the process, preliminary research and assessment in areas of high ecological and cultural value, socio-economic analysis of the local community and economic activities in the area. A dossier with all supporting documents is compiled and evaluated first by the International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves and then by the International Coordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere.
The most important element for a positive evaluation of a site is the active involvement of local authorities. Of course, the benefits for the area designated as a Biosphere Reserve are manifold: It becomes an active member of a global development network; it gains international recognition; it has the opportunity to promote and distinguish the products and services it offers; it has the opportunity through global networking to pursue innovative approaches to economic development by exchanging good practices and entering into partnerships with other Reserves.
The role of local government, especially with the possibilities that will be given after the forthcoming reform, but also the role of the National Commission for UNESCO, the services and the central Furthermore, it can also assist in the implementation of actions and programmes to educate and raise awareness among the public and local communities.
In this context, my Office and I personally have undertaken to support the efforts of the Diarizo and Xeropotamos Valleys Complex and, to launch this initiative, we are planning to hold a workshop in Salamis entitled "From Local to Global Conservation: Inclusion of Community Clusters in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves" in collaboration and with the participation of representatives of the Asterousia Biosphere Reserve (Region of Crete), during the coming June.
I would like to stress, however, that the successful integration of a region into the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Network requires proper preparation, planning and cooperation between local authorities and other stakeholders so that, on the one hand, the region is suitable for integration and, on the other hand, it is able to take advantage of the benefits offered by the programme, contributing to the long-term sustainability and protection of its natural and cultural heritage.
In conclusion, I congratulate you again for the efforts you are making for the sustainable development of your communities and of the whole Cluster. The successful integration of the Diarizo-Xeropotamos Valleys into the Biosphere Reserve Network can be a model of applied sustainable development by promoting ecotourism, agro-tourism and other environmentally responsible activities, combined and balanced with the protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage. Moreover, it could serve as a model for other areas in Cyprus to adopt similar approaches for their long-term sustainability.
Thank you and I wish you all the best for the rest of the event.
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(ASP)
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