The Alliance VALOR is formed by participants and a large number of associated partners from the European countries Italy, Greece, Germany, Romania, Spain, Cyprus and from Turkey, such as regional, national and European Parks (as key target employment market), higher education institutions, enterprises and relevant stakeholders including regional and national authorities and umbrella organizations.
| P1 |
ENTE PARCO NAZIONALE DEL GRAN SASSO E MONTI DELLA LAGA |
ITALY | |
| P2 | ORGANISMOS FYSIKOU PERIVALLONTOS & KLIMATIKIS ALLAGIS |
GREECE | |
| P3 |
NATURPARK SCHWARZWALD MITTE/NORD E.V. |
GERMANY | |
| P4 |
PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIAS |
GREECE | |
| P5 | UNIVERSITATEA STEFAN CEL MARE DIN SUCEAVA |
ROMANIA | |
| P6 |
MAKRO YONETIM GELISTIRME DANISMANLIK LTD. STI. |
TURKEY | |
| P7 |
CONSORCI CENTRE DE CIENCIA I TECNOLOGIA FORESTAL DE CATALUNYA |
SPAIN | |
| P8 |
SYNTHESIS CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LTD. |
CYPRUS | |
| P9 |
INTEGRA FILDER E.V. |
GERMANY |
Click on a partner, from the table above, for further information.
PNGSL
Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park develops activities that aim to guarantee and promote the conservation and valorization of the natural, the social and cultural heritage of the area. These activities are carried out with a permanent interaction with the local communities in order to make conservation a common and shared objective. The park’s main activity sectors are the management and safeguarding of the animal and vegetal heritage, the promotion of scientific research in cooperation with research bodies, the development of actions for environmental sustainable improvement. In the field of conservation, the park carries on strategic projects for the reintroduction, monitoring, and protection of large mammals as well as extensive research to support conservation of minor species, especially those of Community interest, to this purpose having also cooperated to/coordinated many EU funded projects. The area of PNGSL is formed by a Southern (Gran Sasso) and a Northern (Laga Mountains) range, differently characterized by rocky ridges, peaks, forest and grassland, used for livestock raising, firewood, and chestnut production, and also for mountain recreational activities (mainly hiking). The majority of the park’s area is privately owned by inhabitants and by the communities owning mainly pastures and most part of the forests.
P1-PNGLS is the coordinator of the VALOR Knowledge Alliance.
NECCA
Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (NECCA) which was founded by law in 2002, is a public benefit, non-profit, legal entity governed by private law, operating under the direct supervision of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy. Its goal is the protection and management of Olympus National Park and its jurisdiction area more generally, as well as the management of Mt Olympus Biosphere Reserve.
The jurisdiction area of Mt Olympus Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency, at the time of its establishment, was approximately 23.500 ha, with designated zonation (A’, B’ & C’ Protection Zones), concerning the gradation of protection and the allowable activities from the visitors and the local inhabitants. According to a new law, which was voted in 2018, the Agency’s responsibility area has been, almost, tripled and today amounts to approximately 70.000 ha, with the addition of four more NATURA 2000 protected sites.
Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency is located in Litochoro (Prefecture of Pieria), on the foothills of Mount Olympus. The area of its jurisdiction spans across six municipalities and three regional units. Currently, 15 members of staff are employed, which are governed by an 7-member Management Board comprised of representatives from relevant authorities and organizations (forestry departments, local municipalities, regional units, ministries, NGOs, Scientific Community etc.
The Agency’s main areas of work include, but are not limited to: a) implementation of management actions and plans in the National Park and Biosphere Reserve, as well as in the whole jurisdiction area b) implementing monitoring programs focused on important species, habitats, pressures, etc., c) raising environmental awareness in the local community and delivering environmental education programs, d) supervising and patrolling the protected area, e) provision of information both to the visitors and the local community, f) provision of opinions (positive and/or negative) for any work or activity taking place within or nearby the protected area, and needs environmental authorization.
The construction projects, such as paths, bridges, labels, procuring of income from different sources (insert ticket, tour-guiding, provision of quality label etc.) and of course the accession to native or European Financial Projects, are secondary responsibilities, but very important for the sustainability of the agency, in the future.
NSWMN
Extensive forests, open valleys, a rich history: In order to preserve and carefully develop the Black Forest cultural landscape, which has grown over the centuries, the Black Forest Nature Park Central/North was founded in 2000. Its aim is to preserve the uniqueness and beauty of the landscape and at the same time to promote nature-friendly offers for tourism. The nature park has the legal structure of an incorporated society and is headed by a member of the regional forestry commission. The members of the society are the 106 local communities situated within the nature park, 7 rural district authorities and 2 town councils as well as a whole range of associations and individuals.
The three pillars of nature park work
∙ Protecting nature and making it tangible
As a major conservation area, one of the main tasks of the nature park is to protect nature and landscape in the Black Forest and at the same time to make it tangible for people. The nature park therefore supports active protection and care measures as well as programmes that introduce children, adolescents and adults to nature.
∙ Actively experience the nature park
The nature park is a paradise for all those who want to experience the Black Forest actively. One focus of the nature park work is therefore the creation of a modern and nature-friendly infrastructure. A variety of different and certified hiking and themed trails, varied mountain bike tours and cycle paths, adventure trails for children and unique viewpoints characterize the nature park.
∙ Regional marketing – preservation of the cultural landscape
The cultural landscape in the nature park is shaped by the Black Forest farmers, who ensure that the typical landscape, the change between forest and open areas is preserved.
UTH
UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY (UTH), with 37 Departments and 8 Faculties, is a University with its own identity and with a prominent position in our national educational system. University of Thessaly provides undergraduate and postgraduate programs and extra-curricular modules in specific research and business fields, for over 43000 students. The main mission of the University of Thessaly is the promotion of scientific knowledge through research and the contribution to the cultural and economic development of the local community and wider society. It is known for its excellent research performance and outstanding scientific achievements, in accordance with the international Standards.
USV
Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV) stands out as a renowned higher education and research institution in the North-East of Romania. USV promotes and supports the creation and dissemination of knowledge by means of quality education and training activities, research and innovation, human development and entrepreneurship. The actions are supported by the university management and implemented by academic staff of different faculties of the university. An overview of our faculties can be found at www.usv.ro.
The doctoral programs cover 14 scientific domains. USV’s Research Centres are oriented towards applied research. USV promotes cultural diversity through international opening aimed at enhancing international integration through collaboration with EU and international universities. USV makes efforts to approach holistic internationalization strategy encompassing various types of academic cooperation. USV assumes the role of scientific research, development and innovation in science and technology, arts and letters, aiming to pace with strategic changes taking place nationally and internationally. In this national and international context, USV is in the midst of powerful transformations of perception, mentality, to reconsider the importance of scientific research in institutional development and involvement in regional socio-economic development. USV is a dynamic European institution participating in various international projects focusing on research and innovation, efficient use and integration of local resources, creation of networks and infrastructures to support local community, and development of highly qualified and dedicated specialists. In the context of integration into the European Higher Education and Scientific Research network, internationalization is one our priorities.
MAKRO
MAKRO is a management development and consulting company, founded in 1984 and located in Ankara. Since its time of establishment, the company has been providing research, strategy and planning, training services to local & regional bodies and taking part in project work for personal and professional development of individuals in various communities incl. disadvantaged/vulnerable groups. The activities in Turkey highly relies on collaborations with local & regional bodies (chambers of commerce and industry, regional development agencies, etc.) and comprise regional development services, such as; sectoral and innovation capacity assessments, reporting and strategic planning.
To date, MAKRO has developed over 100 projects in this scope. The company also has a track record on entrepreneurship training development and provision in various regions in Turkey. By relying on its expertise, MAKRO has developed a unique ‘learning path’ method for innovative entrepreneurship; step-by-step approach through self-assessment, eLearning and business idea development. Now the methodology is being used by several incubator & accelerator programs in Turkey.
In international scope, since 2007, MAKRO has been involved in 20 European projects, both as coordinators and partners, in the framework of various programmes (EuropeAid, IPA, Erasmus+). The projects have developed innovative training programmes for youth and adult individuals, mainly targeting social integration / inclusion, entrepreneurial development (incl. innovative, social and migrant entrepreneurship), vocational development and provided via the use of contemporary distance learning methods.
CTFC
The Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), based in Solsona (Lleida), was initially founded by the County Council of Solsonès and the University of Lleida. Later on, the Provincial Council of Lleida, the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, the Government of Catalonia, the Autonomus University of Barcelona, the Barcelona Provincial Council and the City Council of Solsona were incorporated. The CTFC is a public consortium attached to the administration of the Government of Catalonia and it depends on the department responsible for forests. It forms part of the Catalan research centers (CERCA) and is a TECNIO agent accredited by the Government of Catalonia (public technology developer). The mission of CTFC is to contribute to the modernization and competitiveness of forest sector, to promote rural development and to foster the sustainable management of the environment through excellence in research and transfer of knowledge and technology to society, with the final aim of becoming a reference center at the national and international level.
To achieve this, we are organized on three programs: multifunctional forest management, landscape dynamics and biodiversity, and governance and bioeconomy.
The research carried out within these programs is focused on key aspects such as
environmental function equilibrium, climate change adaptation or competitiveness along value chains. Part of the activity carried out in the programs is transferred to society by the company FBS.
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education Ltd is a pioneering organisation which initiates and implements projects of positive social change in the fields of entrepreneurship, sustainable development, migrant integration and social inclusion. SYNTHESIS is perhaps the leading institution in the field of social entrepreneurship in the island. One of its success stories is the establishment of “Hub Nicosia,” a co-working centre for organisations with cultural, environmental and social aims.
INTEGRA
INTEGRA e.V. is a migrants’ organization based in Stuttgart and Filderstadt in Germany. INTEGRA works with immigrants with Turkish, Mediterranean, Arab and African background and with refugees coming to Germany. INTEGRA e.V. offers social activities for integration, educational services, language courses, vocational training seminars, environmental projects, resilient and sustainable development, cultural heritage and protection of cultural skills and knowledge, social participation programmes, special training workshops and personal advice and guidance for employability improvement. INTEGRA works directly with other administrative and social institutions in the regions of Stuttgart and Filderstadt, is closely connected to public stakeholders and decision makers, is members of several integration boards and councils, and serves as advisor to public policy development. INTEGRA also trains educators, trainers and social as well as political multipliers. INTEGRA operates its own learning and community center in Filderstadt.
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VALOR 