Interreg Citizens Engagement Activities
Project Details
- Project programme: Interreg Volunteer Youth Initiative
- Project budget: Maximum €5 000 per activity
- European Wilderness Society budget: Project dependent
- Start date: 01/07/2019
- End date: 31/12/2020
- Project website: Interreg Volunteer Youth
- More information: Interreg Volunteer Youth – Activities
Project Objectives
The European Territorial Cooperation, known as Interreg, aims to build solidarity between European people and cultures. Called Citizens Engagement Activities, their objectives is to involve yound people in civic programmes, through IVY, to help raise knowledge on the many benefits that occur with cross border collaboration.
Below you can read about some of the European Wilderness Society’s projects that were developed.
Wildlife tracking
Through ‘Wildlife tracking with locals’ we invited local citizens to join us for the active outdoor wildlife tracking workshop and learn about the art of wildlife tracking, as well as the different projects that contribute to nature conservation in the Triglav region through the support from the European Cohesion Policy.
Bridging the gap
The last Citizens Engagement Activity of 2019 took place in Tschengls in South Tyrol in the middle of December. The event named Bridging the gap focused on the future of the pasture farming in the region. With the return of wolves and other large predators, alpine pasture farming is under pressure and needs joint solutions. More than 60 participants joined the event and discussed the topic with experts.
Hornad Wild River Cleaning
In the end of October, the activity Hornad Wild River Cleaning was organised in Slovakia, focusing on the health of rivers. Rivers are the life lines of many regions and transcend borders just like the European Cohesion Policy. Unfortunately, a lot of rivers suffer from pollution. Clean water supply is crucial for all parts of human life and for nature. On the first evening, citizens discussed the importance of river protection. The next day, dozens of volunteers took this matter into their own hands and cleaned the Hornad river from waste.
Whispering of the trees
In “Whispering of the trees” students participated in workshops and a field trip into one of the most valuable UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany, the Grumsin forest. Participants delved deep into how to open all their senses and be present in nature and how to develop a story based upon personal impressions in this ancient forest. They also learnt how the EU Cohesion Policy supports its protection through various projects in the region.
Insect respect
The Insect Respect activity provided the opportunity to get hands-on experience about how to contribute to keeping insect biodiversity in our focus! By highlighting EU funded projects that support this cause, participants learnt how important insects are for our everyday life and how we can protect them. Everybody built their own insect hotel, which they took with them to provide the insects in each garden with a home!
Nature experience
Events under “Interreg Volunteer Youth” are organised by young volunteers involved in European projects enhancing territorial cooperation. During the Nature Experience Workshop a group of 30 local and international outdoor enthusiasts met in Bulgaria, to explore and learn about experiencing wild nature and how the European Cohesion Policy finances projects to support local development and nature protection.
Respect Nature
The Respect Nature Citizens engagement Activity promotes international cooperation by bringing together organisations involved in the European Cohesion Policy along with youth and locals in Ramingstein. The project engaged the target audience about the natural and protected areas that characterise the Austrian countryside. This was accomplished in a full-day workshop and smaller events where participants learnt how to treat nature with respect. The outcome promoted regional development while showing local and international organisations how important it is to support local culture and nature.
WILDArt Majella
The goal of WILDArt Majella was to unite local communities and artists from across Europe to promote cultural exchange following the European Cohesion Policy. This Citizens engagement Activity helped the region which is suffering from rural flight. Through the development of unique art, which can be displayed at many venues, it is believed that it will inspire local and international communities the value of nature and the natural environment.
Project Partners
- European Wilderness Society
- Interreg Volunteer Youth