Transforming the Greek Island of Samothraki into a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. An Experience in Transdisciplinarity

Abstract

This research explored the feasibility of transforming the island of Samothraki, Greece, into a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The goal was to assess whether this would help to foster a sustainable socio-economic development and to preserve the unique natural and cultural heritage of the island. In recent years the number of seasonal residents and tourists on the island has been growing substantially, and so, too, have the demands upon facili ties and infrastructures. The number of livestock, primarily goats and sheep, has increased exponentially, enhanced by the agricultu ral policies of the EU. Overgrazing, in combination with the steepness of terrain, has led to severe soil erosion, even within the existing Natura 2000 conserva tion area. Such conditions made it apparent that a new develop ment model was needed, and an initiative was started to create a biosphere reserve. In a transdisciplinary process, the scientists gradually transferred ownership of this vision to local stakeholders. A biophysical and socio-economic assess ment showed that a biosphere reserve would be appropriate and be welcomed by the majority of stakeholders. The community council recently endorsed an application to UNESCO. 182Marina Fischer-Kowalski, Lazaros Xenidis, Simron Jit Singh, Irene Pallua FORSCHUNG | RESEARCHBiosphere reserves are areas encompassing valuable ecosystems and social communities that wish to combine the conservation of ecosystems with their sustainable use. They are nominated by national governments and remain under their jurisdiction but are internationally recognized and protected by UNESCO, based on the Seville Strategy and the Statutory Framework (UNES -CO 1996). In the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, exchange of information, experience, and personnel is facilitated. There are about 580 biosphere reserves in 114 countries (UNESCO 2011), combining nature conservation, environmental monitoring, training, demonstration, local participation, and sustainable development. Biosphere reserves contain a core area that strictly conserves minimally disturbed ecosystems, a buffer zone surrounding the core, and a transition zone that allows limited socio-economic activities such as sustainable tourism or agriculture.On the basis of this problem definition and vision, an open, thorough, and critical process was designed to systematically explore whether a development pathway as outlined in the bio sphere reserve concept would be feasible for the island of Samothraki and whether it would be welcomed by local stakeholders. 1 As a first step, answers were sought to the following questions (figure 1):Question 1: Does the island of Samothraki provide adequate natural, social, and economic opportunities for a pathway of nature conservation and sustainable development as envisioned in the UNESCO biosphere reserve concept? Question 2: If yes: Is the vision of becoming a biosphere reserve in accordance with UNESCO standards attractive to local (and regional) stakeholders? Does it offer containment and an identity that i...

Photometric Analysis of Propolis from the Island of Samothraki, Greece. The Discovery of Red Propolis

“…[40] The reasons for this floral richness are mainly because of Samothraki's geographic location (25 km from the closest shore), its proximity to three different floral zones, [41] and its rugged terrain. As described by FischerÀ Kowalski et al, [42] a large part of Samothraki's total surface area is mountainous, owing to the volcanic origin of the island (Mount Saos rises to 1624 m). Most of this mountain territory is currently protected as a Natura 2000 conservation area.…”

The role of science in sustainability transitions: citizen science, transformative research, and experiences from Samothraki island, Greece

“…What started as a response to environmental degradation by concerned citizens, some ten years ago, has developed into an ambitious and evolving research program, informing and informed by an alternative vision of local island development from the bottom up, and has led to the imminent designation of the whole island as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The road to designation so far has been a truly transdisciplinary and open-ended process, in which ownership has gradually shifted from scientists to local actors (Fischer-Kowalski et al, 2011;Petridis, 2016), creating a research agenda along the way. (Information on the UNESCO bid, together with all past and ongoing research activities can be found at the project website: http://sustainable-samothraki.net/.)…”

“…Samothraki is a mountainous island of the NE Aegean, Greece (Figure 1), with an area of 178 km 2 and 2,859 permanent residents that are mostly occupied with agriculture (mainly livestock keeping) and seasonal tourism services. Samothraki attracts about 40,000 visitors per year, in a relatively short season (Fischer-Kowalski et al, 2011); with 0.5 tourist beds per inhabitant, it ranks in the lower range of Greek islands (Spilanis & Vayanni, 2004). It has numerous freshwater streams and outstanding natural beauty (Natura 2000, for the most part), as well as significant cultural heritage, and is at the crossroads of development pathways.…”

“…This trend is even more pronounced among the island's visitors, an overwhelming majority of whom support a conservationist scenario for the future of Samothraki (Fischer-Kowalski et al, 2011). Islandness is not always positively connoted by the local inhabitants, but is nevertheless a quality appreciated and recognised as a comparative advantage to be utilised, especially in areas of tourism and quality food provision (Petridis & Huber, 2017;Petridis et al, 2013;Rau et al, 2014).…”

Samothraki in Transition: A Report on a Real-World Lab to Promote the Sustainability of a Greek Island

“…Does it offer containment and an identity that is welcome and promising? These questions were dealt with a literature and data review, and a representative survey (N=1511) of residents and tourists [8] leading to positive conclusions: The island's landscape and biodiversity proved to be quite exceptional and highly worthy of protection; second, the local population, and even more so the tourists, gave support to a conservationist rather than a modern industrial developmental course. The outcome was a unanimous decision of the local municipal council in favour of an application to UNESCO.…”