Biodiversity and Footpaths on Lesser Cycladic Islands, Elliniki Etairia
The Sustainable Aegean Programme of the Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Department of Biology of the University of Athens, is carrying out the ‘Biodiversity and Footpaths on the Lesser Cyclades’ project. It aims to record the biodiversity of four islands (Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia, Donoussa), in parallel with the restoration and signposting of traditional footpaths. A key objective of the project, carried out with the support of the A. G. Leventis Foundation, is to raise awareness in local communities, underlining that economic prosperity is attainable through ecotourism activities under two conditions: maintaining intact all the particular, unique features of the Aegean landscape; and introducing activities that relate to and respect the island’s biodiversity. Using the traditional footpaths, visitors come into contact with the natural environment of the island and will have the opportunity to explore the unique dry-stone walls of the Aegean Islands.
Grant given:
2013, 2014
