Network of European Islands for the Development of Sustainable Tourism Erasmus Project

Project Title

Network of European Islands for the Development of Sustainable Tourism

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

Although islands account for only 5% of the earth’s surface, they host 20% of terrestrial plants and vertebrates and 600 million people depend on island ecosystem services for their sustainable development. Small islands are laboratories for sustainable development and innovative, environmental, social, legal or technical solutions. Islands share similar challenges and common solutions to ensure the sustainable management of their environment. However, the isolation, the scarcity of resources, the limited space, the lack of technologies reduce a priori the range of solutions. This is why networking between small islands is essential. It helps reducing this isolation as well as identifying and sharing sustainable solutions, thus increasing their skills and knowledge in the fields of sustainable resource management.

The general objective of this project is to respond to the need for exchange and knowledge strengthening of managers of small European islands. The specificity of the European islands is characterised both by a common identity, historical and cultural heritage, but also by a shared political and institutional framework. The selected theme is tourism, both as a vector of development and pressure on ecosystems, and a major common issue on islands. The project aims to strengthen their capacities to work in a network to bolster their initiatives to develop a more sustainable tourism, in a logic of cooperation and solidarity between islands in Europe, and beyond. It also aims to strengthen their technical skills in the fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism; contribute to the definition of an international strategy for the sustainable development of small islands; enrich the SMILO “Good practices platform” dedicated to gathering, promoting and disseminating good sustainable practices of European resources; and strengthen the presence of the European islands within the SMILO network, on the islands beyond the project.

This project is coordinated by the NGO Small Islands Organisation (SMILO), which supports small islands of less than 150km² towards the sustainable management of their territory and resources. It bolsters integrated operations for the preservation of islands’ natural resources, in relation to water and sanitation, waste, energy, biodiversity, landscapes and heritage issues. The Sustainable Island label rewards the positive local dynamics and sustainable practices. To strengthen cooperation and solidarity between islands, the NGO coordinates an international network, with members from Europe, West Africa, the Indian Ocean, and Southeast Asia. The project partners are small emblematic islands with an exceptional heritage. They are close to the mainland and carry out actions that combine tourism development with the preservation of their natural heritage. The partners are the islands of Brownsea (United Kingdom) with the National Trust, Zlarin (Croatia) with the Tourist Office, Saint-Honorat (France) with the Abbey of Lérins, and Mausund (Norway) with Eider AS, Mausund Feltstasjon.

The project launch meeting will take place during the international event “ICO Solutions” (Coast Island Ocean), from January 11 to 13, 2021 in parallel with the IUCN World Conservation Congress. In addition to the launch meeting, the partners will be able to participate in a session entirely dedicated to sustainable tourism on islands, organised within the framework of ICO Solutions. Throughout the project, four technical workshops will be organised by the partners on their territory to discuss sustainable tourism issues, with the participation of key local actors. Local partners will be associated to lead a training session to share good practices and discuss the possibility of replicability with the participants. The last workshop will be dedicated to writing a technical note. It will include reflections and recommendations on the challenges of sustainable tourism on small islands. This note is intended to be used by other European islands, and will contribute to the definition of an international strategy for the sustainable development of small islands, which SMILO is developing.

These continuous exchanges are expected to lead to new partnerships between these European islands, and with islands from the SMILO network. In addition, the project will support stakeholders to better plan territorial projects, for example through the definition of investment priorities or the enhancement of local initiatives effectiveness. The local community and visitors should ultimately benefit from an improvement of the environment and the quality of life.

Project Website

https://smilo-program.org/projects/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 59605 Eur

Project Coordinator

Small Islands Organisation & Country: FR

Project Partners

• CONGREGATION DES CISTERCIENS DE L’IMMACULEE CONCEPTION
• Eider AS
• THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY
• Turistička zajednica mjesta Zlarin