Actions
Action E.2: Public Education and Visitor Information centres
The purpose of this action is to establish modern, functional public education and visitor information centres on Mt. Oiti and Mt. Kallidromo. It includes upgrading of the facilities of the Natural History Museum of Mt. Oiti and the establishment of new education and information facilities on Mt. Kallidromo, and it will start on the first year of the project.
Both centres will provide information on the natural environment of the Natura 2000 sites of Mts. Oiti and Kallidromo, and in particular on the target habitats and species. Moreover, the centers will complement the function of, and cooperate with, the Environmental Education Centres of Stylida, Ypati, Amfissa, and Karpenisi, established in the Region by the Ministry of Education.
The Natural History Museum of Mt. Oiti (NHMO) was established by the Forest Directorate of the Prefecture of Fthiotida and is housed in the complex of Agathonas Monastery, close to Ypati, on one of the main routes into the National Park of Mt. Oiti. It consists of: a) the museum of the National Park of Mt. Oiti with general information on the conservation of the natural environment, exhibits on the natural (geological, paleontological, ecological) environment of Mt. Oiti and a small library and laboratory; b) a bird fauna museum; and c) a botanical garden with plants of Mt. Oiti. The NHMO is actually the only information infrastructure for Mt. Oiti, but it is organised and functions with outdated concepts, and lacks proper maintenance. The action includes upgrading of the Museum by:
- Updating the general information provided, including a special section with information on the Natura 2000 network, on the LIFE+ project aims, on target habitats and species and their threats, and on actions on Mt. Oiti.
- Reorganisation of the exhibits, including construction of dioramas with the forest, grassland and wetland habitats, and flora and fauna species of Mt. Oiti. The dioramas are constructions depicting and interpreting habitats and the species that live in them by using a combination of printed backdrops, real objects and 3D scale models. Dimensions of each construction will be 1.5x1x2 metres.
- An annotated photographic exhibition about the habitats and flora and fauna species of Mt. Oiti, with emphasis on the target habitats and species.
- Enrichment of the botanical garden with keystone species of the target habitats (provided by action C.7).
A new Education and Information Centre will be established in the village of Mendenitsa or in the village of Palaiochori on Mt. Kallidromo. Suitable public buildings exist in both villages (the disused old primary school buildings). This centre will include:
- An information desk.
- Information boards on the Natura 2000 network, on the Natura 2000 site of Mt. Kallidromo, and on the LIFE + project goals, target habitats and species and their threats, as well as on the actions to be carried out on Mt. Kallidromo
- An annotated photographic exhibition of the habitats and flora and fauna species of Mt. Kallidromo, with special emphasis on the target habitats and species.
- Construction of dioramas with the forest, grassland and wetland habitats and flora and fauna species of Mt. Kallidromo.
This action is part of the communication strategy which will effectively address the threat of lack of public awareness and will provide education and awareness raising of both the local people and the visitors to the area.
Moreover, the modern and well organised information centres which will be unique in the Region of Sterea Ellada, are expected to have a positive socio-economic impact since they will attract visitors and raise the profile of the local communities. The establishment of this infrastructure is considered by the local communities as an added value for the cultural and economic development of the area. It also creates a link between the local society and conservation activities, and will encourage the cooperation of the local inhabitants in the management interventions.
For these reasons, the creation of Visitor Information centres and upgrading of the NHMO were measures proposed by the Management Plan for the National Forest Park of Oiti (LIFE92 NAT/GR/013700).
- Establishment and function of a public Education and Information Centre on Mt. Kallidromo.
- Upgrading of the National History Museum of Mt. Oiti.
- Raising of public awareness and improvement of the socio-economic situation of the local communities.
| With the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union | ||
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