The Carpathian Region due to its natural, spatial and social features is particularly at risk of lower lever of socio-economic development. At the same time the Carpathians with their natural cultural and social diversity constitute a unique cultural heritage that, if properly promoted, can contribute to a sustainable regional development by increasing entrepreneurships initiatives and competitiveness.

The Project will directly contribute to the protection of biological and landscape diversity of the Carpathians and improvement of the state of environment of the region. It supports the implementation of the Carpathian Convention and its thematic Protocols. The Project shall contribute to the management of Natura 2000 sites and sustainable multi-functional development of rural communities in the Polish Carpathians

Local self-governments, NGO's, research community, farmers, tourists, producers of goods and services operating in Carpathian areas

The project will finance the application of the Carpathian Convention in the the Voivodeships of Malopolskie and Podkrapackie. It will support traditional forms of economic activity, a regional strategy of sustainable tourism development and a series of information promotion.

Résultats obtenus:  

• Carpathian Convention implementation on track: 53 voivodeships self-government units, 172 NGOs and 10 research/entities are involved in the implementation of the Carpathian convention.
  
• 27 trainings organized
  
• Traditional, nature-friendly forms of economic activity have been promoted: 700 sheep supplied for extensive grazing, 35 farmers are raising and grazing sheep; 61 farmer trainigns / meetings have taken place and 5 shepherds are employed as coordinators of grazing in selected locations by the end of the project, 41 trainings for members of shepherd communes)
  
• 12 regional thematic working groups were established, 4 meetings having been held.
  
• 3 study visits of  Carpathian Convention International Working have taken place.
  
• 55 objects of shepherding infrastructure constructed
  
• 1 consultation meeting of the Carpathian Information Exchange Network, with 17 participants attending

Phase 1 01.01.2012 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)