Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In the last decade the amount of Protected Areas have increased and are still increasing. With the problems of loss of biodiversity and climate changes Protected Areas can be used as a tool to save and protect the nature and biodiversity. Protected Areas are used for different purposes, as protecting the nature, education and tourism. The Adriatic Ionian Basin connects today the European Union and the Western Balkans and there are different initiatives that are taking place in the area. The Network of Adriatic parks (N.A.P.) is a project that has the goal to create a network of Protected Areas in the Adriatic Ionian Basin countries. The project Network of Adriatic Parks is a cross cooperation project in tourism and culture. The countries in the project are Italy, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The Project aims at promoting, enhancing and conserving the natural resources of the Parks and natural oases of the Adriatic region.

Today there is demand from consumers for a different way of food than the industrialized production. One example of that is the recognized value of local food products that have kept the tradition and culture of the specific area. This could be used as a tool, by means of involving the local inhabitants living in the area of the park for social, economical and environmental sustainability of the park and for the rural people living there. The tradition and knowledge in the countries rural area where the parks in the N.A.P. project are situated are not yet familiar with the concept of local products as the parks from the Italy in the project. Because of this, the N.A.P. project could work as a tool for collaboration in this subject and promotion of local products in the Western Balkan countries Protected Areas.