The Youth Exchange Programme “Culture and Biodiversity Paths without Frontiers” was successfully realized on 2-10 September 2006 in Northern Greece and, specifically, in the Prefectures of Kilkis (Mouries Municipality) and Serres (Hrisopigi – Serres Municipality).
The Programme involved the participation of 38 young people from nine (9) different countries (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain), representatives of the following environmental and cultural organisations: «Center for Environment», «Growing up healthy», «Action against AIDS», Bosnia & Herzegovina «Ekokvarner», «Lijepa Naša», «Plavi Val», Croatia «Biosfera Bitola», Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia «Mediterranean Information Office», «Friends of the Balkan Flora», Greece «Legambiente», «Italia Nostra» - Italy «Etnia», «Terra chà», «City Council of Angra do Heroísmo – C.M.A.H», Portugal «Danube Environmental Forum - Serbia & Montenegro – DEF S&M» - Serbia «Society of Bird Research and Nature Protection - DPPVN», Slovenia «Mediterrania-CIE», Spain The objective of this Programme that is being realized every year, was to inform and sensitize the participants on issues of great concern for young people as well as to enhance intercultural dialogue and mutual respect among the people of South East Europe and the Mediterranean. This was achieved through a set of different activities (round table discussions, creative workshops, experiential games, field visits, eco-paths and cultural evenings) highlighting the interlinks and interdependence of cultural and biological diversity and the need of protecting them. The activities of the Programme have been hosted by the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia and the Laboratory of Protection and Evaluation of Native and Floricultural Species of the Greek National Agricultural Research Foundation. The young participants were also involved in activities taking place at Doirani lake, the Beles Mountain, the Strimonas River and the Kerkini wetland. The Programme “Culture and Biodiversity Paths without Frontiers” was organised by the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) in cooperation with the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia and the Friends of the Balkan Flora and it has been co-funded by the General Secretariat for Youth in the framework of the EC programme YOUTH – Action 1 / Youth for Europe. Substantial support was also provided by the Ministry of Employment and Social Protection as well as by the Prefecture and Municipality of Serres. |
