engleski

Sustainable development of the Island of Cres and volunteers program of Eco-center Caput Insulae-Beli

Eco-center Caput Insulae - Beli is non-governmental and non-profit organization for the protection of natural and cultural heritage. The principle goal - the improvement of the protection and conservation of cultural and natural heritage on the Island of Cres we are trying to achieve with the system, or holistic approach. It is an integral approach to the protection of a natural and cultural heritage, simultaneously in the area where both values are pronounced. So we developed two projects: Conservation of the Eurasian Griffons of the Island of Cres and Sustainable development planing on the Island of Cres. We included in this projects other NGOs, municipality, and volonteers in the way to made some kind of network. Rural communities of the Island of Cres face enormuous challenges to sustain themselves. But the process of depopulation was very strong. The result of this is weak political influence of remaining elderly inhabitants and a critical state of historic heritage. Almost all traditional economies and skills have been abandoned and the number of sheep is rapidly decreasing, dimnishing the food resource for rare and endangered Eurasian Griffon. At the same time, that area is enormously rich with biodiversity. The animal and some species of plants species could survive only if local people would continue with traditonal farming and agriculture practices. The local government of Island of Cres has recognized the need for systematic revitalization and sustainable development. The local government needs the input from experts and citizens in order to tailor the plan according to the needs of the island community. The work and achievements positioned the Eco-centre very high in the local community. It has the potentials to bring the relevant experts and volunteers to provide best case demonstrations needed for the Plan. The City of Cres has recognized the opportunity to work with NGO Eco-center Caput Insulae – Beli on the issues of common concern. The City has decided to coordinate the efforts with Eco-center and has allocated the resources for the purpose of production of the Sustainable Development Plan, allowing the outside input to the planning through the meetings opened to public. The City is responsible to organize the meetings and for timely production of the Sustainable Development Plan. Plat-in Ltd. (City owned small business incubator) during the whole project is a coordinator between Eco-center and his partners from one side and families and individuals in small vilages on the Island of Cres. Other partners on the project are local institutions as Youth Correction House. They produce eco-souvenirs as a part of work-rehabilitation program for children with problems in behavior. We initiated the establisment of women’s NGO on the Island of Cres. Its main occupation is to provide better quality of life for island's women. During the project we exchange our experience with other NGOs and GOs from the other parts of Croatia who face similar problems (two NGOs from region Lika, one from region Baranja). But the most important is that we are making contacts beetwen local people, volonteers organization and local government. In this way we are making possibility for the local people to be their own creators of the their own future, and we give them the chance to use the democratic opportunity to involve themselfs in local politics. That is also the way to educate people to recognize the value of this Island. We are coolaborating with the net of local and international volonteering organizations (NGO Svanimir Zagreb, Volunteers center Zagreb, Ecovolunteers Netherlands). Volunteers are included in the practical part of the project (reparing dry-stonewalls, mark the net of eco-trails, cleaning freshwater ponds etc.) The volunteers are also included in the project of Eurasian Griffon Conservation (observing at the nest sites, feeding the birds, etc.). In this way thay have direct contact with the natural and historical heritage and that is the best way to recognize its value, and the best practical way to educate them about envrinomental problems.

Sustainable development; biodiversity protection; education in nature protection; volunteering; Island of Cres

nije evidentirano