-
.
- Ελληνικά
Faced with the climate crisis and with each passing year, the need to effectively address its impacts and the loss of biodiversity with all that it entails becomes more and more urgent: we only have one planet and it is at risk. Our relationship with nature and other living beings needs a radical overhaul - we must design and create a truly shared world for the environment and humans where they can co-exist. This is the goal of the world's biosphere reserves. They have proven that it is possible to live prosperously in this world while establishing a sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature. The story of every biosphere reserve is a success story and each chapter of this story presents new challenges.
Today we are here expressing the desire and the will, all together, to write our (first) own success story.
About three months ago, in March 2024, at the Amygdalia Festival in Salamiou, Mr. Kostakis Avgusti, President of the Salamis Community Council, and currently the Coordinator of Complex Z of the Diarizo-Xeropotamos Valleys, expressed his desire to help the communities of the Complex - which would be created after the local government elections on 9/6/2024 - to grow and prosper through the implementation of projects and actions, based on the development of a corresponding strategy and planning. A strategy based on sustainable development, which will also promote synergies with the nature conservation areas in the region.
In our conversation that day we jointly recognised the need to promote sustainable economic development, to retain the existing population and attract new ones, and, at the same time, the need to protect the biological and cultural diversity of the region. The invitation/challenge was immediately accepted on my part by putting forward the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve model. I set, of course, as a necessary condition the unanimous consensus of all the Communities of the Z-Cluster, and the commitment that they will be collectively and actively involved in the whole effort.
In the same month, on 20/3/2024, a meeting followed in my office with the community leaders and/or their representatives, where I analyzed the content of the above model. I also explained that promoting the conversion of the area into a Biosphere Reserve is an arduous, ongoing, yet beautiful process in which everyone has something to gain, but that we all need to work with commitment and consistency in this direction.
On 22/3/2024 in their meeting, the Community Leaders of Complex Z decided to proceed with the effort to make Complex Z of the Diarizo-Xeropotamos Valleys the 1st Biosphere Reserve in Cyprus.
The Office of the Commissioner for the Environment undertook to coordinate, provide advice, suggestions and ideas and be by your side every step of the way in this pilot implementation. We will make sure to inform the agencies and other bodies where necessary, and we will make every effort within the capabilities of our Office to implement the vision agreed upon.
The effort in this direction, the path towards sustainable development and protection of the region, is already one of the main priorities of my Office, and which is in line with and represents the objectives and the Governance Programme of the President of the Republic Mr. It is important to mention that valuable cooperation has already been agreed with the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, with the Contact Person in Cyprus for Biosphere Reserves, with the Sustainable Development Education Unit of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and with the Department of Environment.
It is important to mention that valuable cooperation has already been agreed with the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, with the Contact Person in Cyprus for Biosphere Reserves, with the Sustainable Development Education Unit of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and with the Department of Environment.
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are global drivers of economic development - socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable -, implementation of cultural activities, restoration and management of nature, protection of biodiversity and cultural diversity, development of agriculture, animal husbandry and local processing and handicraft units, development of local communities, scientific research, education and training as well as attraction of nature and cultural tourism.
Biosphere Reserves concern terrestrial and/or marine areas which include significant biodiversity representative of a biogeographical region, as well as societies wishing to combine the protection of ecosystems with their sustainable use. A prerequisite for an area to be declared a Biosphere Reserve is that part of the area must be under legal protection, as is the case in the Diarizo-Xeropotamos Valleys with areas included in the Natura 2000 network.
But more on these issues will be told by the speakers who will follow.
The Diarizo-Xeropotamos Valleys with its sensitized human potential, the wealth of history, architecture and cultural heritage, the local traditions, the internationally research interesting geomorphology, the environmental specificity, the great biodiversity, the presence of endemic bird species, the natural beauty and the unique natural and cultural landscape, as well as the operating Environmental Education Centre, are an ideal case for inclusion as a single area in this World Network.
However, we must stress that an area is not simply "declared" as a Biosphere Reserve. Its inclusion requires specific steps and actions, both at a practical level and in terms of the commitment of local communities and support from the State and other bodies.
Each Biosphere Reserve defines a zoning system according to local land use and protection status. There are three types of zoning/use/management: development, transitional and protection. These three types of zones must be balanced and properly combined.
In order for Biosphere Reserves to function effectively, a form of governance and management must be established. Whatever form is decided should be effective, democratic, and inclusive, involving stakeholders whose opinions and views on matters relating to the reserve are treated equally. Very important also for achieving the objectives of the Biosphere Reserve is financial support, so there is a need to secure long-term reliable funding.
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.
Local authorities need to communicate In Cyprus, it is the dear Ms Elena Stylianopoulou, Deputy Director and First Officer for Environment at the Department of Environment, whom we are honoured to have with us today.
Subsequently, a dossier with all supporting documents is compiled, which is 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. In addition to the active involvement of local authorities, it requires the participation of scientists working in the fields of ecology, culture and education, as well as the necessary involvement of state authorities, such as departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, the Ministry of the Interior - Department of Town and Country Planning, the State Ministry of Culture and the State Ministry of Tourism. In addition, we consider the active participation of the newly established structures of the Regional Governors and local authorities to be a very important element in the positive evaluation of a region by UNESCO.
The benefits for the region designated as a Biosphere Reserve are manifold.
The benefits for the region designated as a Biosphere Reserve are manifold: The recognition and title are a guaranteed brand for the region, which attracts international interest. Local actions and projects are developed to strengthen the economy and culture, the Biosphere Reserve region automatically becomes an active member of a global development network (more than 700 regions around the world), gaining international recognition and the ability to promote and distinguish its products and services. Through this global networking it is given the opportunity to pursue innovative approaches to economic development, sharing best practices and forging partnerships with other Reserves.
Today's workshop is the first of many to follow and is only the beginning of this effort. The findings of the workshop will be used subsequently, once the working group has been set up with the participation of all, to consider all the issues that arise and which are necessary for the successful creation of all the projects and actions necessary for their inclusion in the dossier to be submitted to UNESCO. We look forward to your active involvement in this process, because only through collective and participatory work will this effort be successful.
Nature can only shield us against the climate crisis if we also shield and strengthen it.
(ASP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
Source[/P][/P]
