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

www.pragueviennagreenways.orgwww.prahawien.greenways.infowww.visitgreenways.com

GREEN BICYCLE – EAST CARPATHIAN GREENWAY (PL, SK, UA)

Green Bicycle – East Carpathian Greenway PL-SK-UA

•Cross-border initiative of three countries – app. 900 km, with main backbone of 105 km

•Based on the East Carpathians Biosphere Reserve

•Network of community-based initiatives related to ecotourism and heritage

Green Bicycle – East Carpathian Greenway

•Not only cycling –hiking, tour skiing, horse-back riding, narrow gauge railway

•Bieszczady Center for Active Tourism– social enterpriseselling ecotourist products certified with a GB logo

Green Bicycle – East Carpathian Greenway

•Handicraft workshops, tasting of local food

•Local products brand „Hand made in Bieszczady”

•Eco-schools on Green Bicycle

MORAVIAN WINE TRAILS (CZ)

Moravian Wine Trails, CZ

•1250 km through orchards, vineyards and wine cellars

Moravian Wine Trails

•10,000 small vineyards

•280 wine growing municipalities

•250,000 visitors annually

Moravian Wine Trails

•Support for small vintners and viniculture –training, networking

•Preservation of landscape and rural architecture

ODER RIVER TRAIL (PL)

Oder River Trail

•Cycling and canoeing along the big river

•Linking protected areas and wildlife refuges

•Local products and ecomuseums

AMBER TRAIL GREENWAY(HU, SK, PL)

Amber Trail GreenwayBudapest - Krakow

•Heritage and ecotourismalong historical trade route discovered during the Roman Empire

LOCAL GREENWAYS IN ROMANIAMineral Water Trail (RO)

www.greenways.ro

Mineral Water Trail (RO)

•Eastern Carpathians, post volcanic region with 2000 sparkling mineral water sources

•6 mineral water spas rebuilt along the greenway

LOCAL GREENWAYS IN BULGARIASheinovets Greenway (BG)

Sheinovets Greenway (BG)

•Eastern Rodopi Mountains Walking trail (3 hours)

•Connects Tracian tomb with a Roman fortress and ends on Sheinovets peak (Bulgarian-Turkish-Greek border)

•Strong support of local communities and municipalities

•Future – wine trail

GREENWAYS TOWARDS EASTERN EUROPE

BELARUS

Greenways in Belarus

70 eco-agrotourism farms

Blue Necklace of Rossony Greenway

First greenway in Belarus, started in 2005

Blue Necklace of Rossony

•200 km

•Local partnership coalition

•2 protected areas

•organic food, wooden „Russian”sauna and home-made atmosphere

www.greenways.bywww.ruralbelarus.by

Greenways in Belarus

Greenways and Ecotourism are about

• making a difference

• telling stories of a place („people to people”tourism)

• implementing dreams about sustainable world

We invite you to visit Central Eastern European Greenways!

PhotosPhotos: :

Dominika Dominika ZarZaręębaba

Richard NebeskyRichard Nebesky

StanisStanisłław aw StrzyStrzyŜŜewskiewski