CENTRE project

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The BIO-DISTRICT: a new rural development model is spreading in Europe based on the defense of agricultural landscape, food sovereignty, enhancement of local resources and on the new frontiers of sustainability (alternative energy, water, biodiversity, bio-architecture, waste recycling, soil protection, quality of life and work), fully consistent with the European “20-20-20” goals. This strategic choice for local communities, however, is often taken in a “top-down” process by policy makers without the direct and active involvement of citizens.

Main aims of the project CENTRE:

1) Create a “DISCIPLINARY” clearly defining a “EUROPEAN BIO-DISTRICT”, created through the ACTIVE and DEMOCRATIC participation of citizens, as a means to achieve a TRUE TERRITORIAL RENAISSANCE for a sustainable future of Europe

2) Constitution of a EUROPEAN NETWORK OF BIO-DISTRICTS signed by all project’s Mayors

3) Making European citizens active stakeholders in the local decision making processes (BOTTOM-UP approach), especially regarding “bio districts” as key choice for quality of life in their communities

4)Test INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS to explore new forms of direct and active citizens’ involvement to foster a stronger sense of belonging by target groups to the issues of the project and to the EU, e.g.: active participation to public initiatives during very CROWDED events; direct attendance in concrete on field “LEARNING-BY-DOING” experiences.

Partners of the project:

 

1) City of San Leo (Rimini)

2) Municipality of Berovo (Macedonia)
3) Joint Naukseni (Latvia)
4) City of Petrosino (Italy)
5) Association Città del Bio (Italy)
6) Ecologie au Quotidien (France)
7) Ageniza development Hranice (Czech Republic)
8) Regional Development Centre of Koper (Slovenia)
9) Regional Committee of Tourism of the Troodos (Cyprus)

 


 

The project « CENTRE – Creating a European Network of Bio-Districts to achieve a True Territorial REnaissance » was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme “Europe for Citizens”
Applicable to the Strand 2 – Measure 2.2 “Networks of Towns”

 

6 events have been carried out within this project:

Event 1

 

Participation: The event involved 101 citizens, including;

– 2 participants from the city of Naukseni (Latvia),

– 2 participants from the city of Hranice (Czech Republic)

– 4 participants from the city of Die (France),

– 2 participants from the city of Koper (Slovenia),

– 4 participants from the cities of Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Augsburg (Germany),

– 3 participants from the cities of Besançon, Strasbourg (France),

– 2 participants from the city of London (UK),

– 2 participants from the city of Salzburg, Villach (Austria)

– 1 participants from the city of Prague (Czech Republic)

– 78 participants from the city of San Leo, Atessa, Modena, Siena, Rimini, Brescia, Macerata, Bolzano, Pesaro, Firenze, Lugo, Treviso, Civitavecchia, Forlì, Tortona, Napoli, Ravenna, Imola, Cesena, Faenza, Torino, Riccione, Novafeltria, Petrosino, Garlasco (Italy)

Location / Dates:

The event took place in San Leo (ITALY), from 05/09/2015 to 07/09/2015

Short description:

The Municipality of San Leo, Lead Partner of the CENTRE project, organized a three days activity to introduce the main project issue such as the constitution of a bio-district, dealing with some of the themes connected to it: ecology, sustainable development, recycling, etc. It has been possible to discuss and learn through Learning By Doing experience on Urban Gardens and visit some interesting examples of farms and/or enterprises known at local/national level for their innovative solutions in the field concerned. This first meeting has been organized simultaneously to a Local Event, Festival “Torneo in Armatura” recalling the Renaissance at the Fortress of San Leo to foster active participation of Citizens and Tourists to project activities. The first day of event started at the Conference call at the Town Council with the welcome of Mayor of San Leo, Mauro Guerra and the speeches of Sauro Sarti of the Province of Rimini and expert in urban gardens Architect Massimo Bottini. The conference have been followed by a technical meeting related to the implementation of the project, in particular calendar of events, budget management, activities to be realized, dissemination and communication strategies etc.

In the afternoon, the delegation left the Town Council to join the Fortress of San Leo and assist to the exhibition and performance organized for the Festival “Torneo in Armatura”. A guided tour to the Fortress and historical centre followed the exhibition. In the second day of the event, the agenda proposed three guided tours.

The first one at IRCI SPA Systems and Energy, enterprise specialized in aquaponics facilities.

Here it has been possible to get in touch with the innovative methods used by the enterprise to generate facilities in a sustainable ways. Later on, it has been organized a guided tour at Farm “Azienda Agricola Lazzi”, agricultural company with expertise on the production of energy from biogas livestock and business photovoltaic systems to produce a high quality milk. The event ended at Villa Olivucci of Alberto Olivucci, President of “Civiltà Contadina” (“rural culture”), www.civiltacontadina.it. Villa Olivucci is a unique reality; a house dating back to XVI century surrounded by a luxuriant nature cultivation of old vegetable varieties and coordinates the activities of the Association Kokopelli Italy for the conservation of biodiversity seed.

In this singular place, the event concluded with an Open Forum on bio districts with testimonies of local actors on issues of ecology, sustainable development, recycling.

Event 2


Participation: The event involved 101 citizens, including;

– 2 participants from the city of Naukseni (Latvia),

– 2 participants from the city of Hranice (Czech Republic)

– 6 participants from the cities of Poggioreale, Petrosino, Grugliasco, Rimini (Italy),

– 2 participants from the city of Koper (Slovenia),

– 2 participants from the city of Berovo (Macedonia),

– 2 participants from the city of Platres (Cyprus),

– 1 participants from the city of Montreal (Canada),

– 13 participants from the city of Bruxelles, Louvein (Belgium),

– 1 participants from the city of Barcelone (Spain),

– 1 participants from the city of Stuttgart (Germany),

– 1 participants from the city of (Burkina-faso),

– 69 participants from the city of Lyon, Saillans, Eurre, Grenoble, Chambery, Avignon, Die, Ardèche, Valence, Crest, Marseille, Bordeaux,  Gap, Allauch, Messy, Aouste, (France)

Location / Dates: The event took place in Die (France) from 22/01/2016 to 24/01/2016

Short description:

The second CENTRE meeting was held in Die (France) from the 22th to 24th of January 2016, during the XIV edition of the “Rencontres Ecologie au Quotidien”. The organization of the meeting during the well-known Festival gave a strong dissemination to the project not only to the local audience (citizens, volunteers, policy-makers etc…) but also to a huge number of participants/volunteers coming from different part of France and Europe. The CENTRE participants received a warm hospitality from the people responsible for the Festival and volunteers of the Association Ecologie au Quotidien, partner of the CENTRE project, which accompanied the group of participants during the 3 days. All participants, hosted by families, had to possibility to relate directly to local citizens, discover traditional habits and local culture, history and environment. The moments dedicated to lunch and dinner were a precious time to talk with families, volunteers, other participants and build interesting and fruitful ties with people. The first day of meeting (22/01/16) included a visit to the town of Die and the “Ancient Monastery of Sainte Croix”, founded in the 12th Century and located in the hilltop village. In the area of the Monastery, there are two hectares of green space including a botanic garden, a terraced garden and a wooden park with a great variety of trees. The old Monastery offers an ideal setting for trying delicious local specialities. During the afternoon, it was possible to visit ecological companies and organic farmers, in particular the associative Bio Grocer’s shop and Nateva. Nateva is located in the Vercors Regional Nature Reserve, at the heart of the Biovallée and in the prime organic production area in France (Drôme Department). The laboratory is well placed as a production facility for transforming wild crafted and cultivated organic medicinal and aromatic plants. The Mayor of Die, Mr Gilbert Trémolet, and his staff, has concluded the first day with a meeting at the City Hall with a Welcoming ceremony. The second day of meeting (23/01/16) took place in another part of the Biovallée: Vallée de la Drôme. The programme included a presentation of the Biovallée association, the actors and elected representatives of the Biovallée in the Eco-Amphitheater “the Campus” of the Eco-Site of Eurre-26. In this occasion, all EU partners presented themselves and the project to the public audience. The presentation has been followed by three visits to an eco-construction, an organic pole and an organic farm. At the end of the day, CENTRE project and partner have been officially presented during the debate on the theme “To build together Innovative territories” at the Ecological Festival in Die. The debate was followed by the Opening ceremony of the 14th Festival of day-to-day ecology dedicated to the topic “Changer de vision” at the presence of Mayor, elected representatives, local actors and associations and public audience.

In the last and third day of meeting (24/01/16) the programme included a visit to Saillans, a village managed by the inhabitants with a participative democracy and a visit to the local Market and eco-host “La lune en bouche” in Saint Andéol en Quint. The meeting ended after a final discussion between the CENTRE Partners on project’s activities and future collaborations.

 

pdfCENTRE_project_info.pdf

Region / municipalities

Piran
Izola
Koper
Ankaran
Hrpelje - Kozina
Divača
Sežana
Komen

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