2nd Stakeholder Meeting in Western Greece on 3rd November!
On October 10th, our partner the University of Patras hosted their second Down to Earth Stakeholder Meeting. This second meeting in Western Greece presented the outcomes of Down to Earth first semester of activity, including the Kick-Off Conference Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Study Visit in Molise, Italy, where Down to Earth partners discovered how the issues linked the topic of year 1 “Environmental risks related with depopulation and ageing population in rural areas” are addressed. The event, coordinated by Professor Nikos Koutsias, was organised on the University premises in Agrinio.
Drawing inspiration from successful initiatives in Spain and Italy, Dr. Konstantinos Antonopoulos, emphasized the project's impact on the region and countryside. He highlighted good practices from Galicia and Molise to attract new farmers, sustainable agricultural land management, trail networks, community centers, civil protection monitoring systems, and innovative agricultural techniques.
The Mayor of Kalavryta and President of the PED of Western Greece, Mr. Athanasios Papadopoulos, expressed the region's efforts to revitalize the countryside and called for the project's broad impact at the regional and national levels. Mayor Ioannis Triantafyllakis of Xiromero addressed the challenges faced by Municipalities in remote areas.
Deputy Mayor of Thermo, Mrs. Sofia Stamou, highlighted sustainable practices in the Municipality of Thermo and their interest in collaborating with the Molise region on the preservation of traditional techniques and the revival of viticulture.
The meeting also featured interventions from Mr. Antonis Prionas, Municipal Councilor of Thermo, and Mrs. Vlachou from Aetoliki Development, highlighting the importance of informing elected officials and the significance of quadruple helix initiatives that unite the university community, self-government, businesses, civil society, and the environment. Artist Mr. Kretsis concluded the session with insights into the role of culture in preserving and revitalizing rural areas and monuments.
Finally, Professor Vagelis Papadakis also presented the first Down to Earth international thematic conference and Study Visit scheduled for February 13-15, 2024, in Western Greece. Prof. Papadakis underscored the project's commitment to transferring good practices and facilitating mutual learning among participating regions and partners. The municipalities in attendance proposed special sessions on self-government strategies and the demographic problem during the planned conference.
As Down to Earth continues its mission to foster sustainable rural development, these stakeholder meetings serve as crucial forums for collaboration and exchange of ideas and ensure actual impact on rural communities.