A Network of European Wetlands COMMUNITY INITIATIVE LEADER+ Section 2 - Action Transnational cooperation Brussels, June 27 th

LAG Northern Marches Ebre Delta Park LAG Adicomt LAG Polesine Delta Po LAG DELTA 2000 LAG Dimossineteristiki Evros S.A. LAG Aktiivinen Pohjois-Satakunta ry LAG Oglio Po Terre d’Acqua Promoting Committee Partners joining the Network partnership

what did we start from? The project idea came from DELTA 2000 LEADER II local development plan, whose transnational cooperation strategy was aimed at enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the Po Delta area With LEADER+ the project idea has been improved and carried on by the definition of a project proposal for the creation of a network of European wetlands which has been spread among LAGs and National Leader Network Units at international level in order to seek possible partners for the definition and realization of the project. by structuring new marketing strategies and tourism products such as: birdwatching, cycling tours, nature tourism for schools, cultural tours

project objectives ….TO PROMOTE the wetlands and the opportunities given by a sustainable use of rural areas ….TO CREATE A NETWORK connecting regions and economic operators, in order to favour the exchange of experiences … TO INVOLVE WETLANDS AT EUROPEAN LEVEL, in order to create the first link in a longer chain of future working groups and targeted projects. key elements - presence of wetlands (with a wide meaning: deltas, estuary mouths, river areas, lakes, marshlands, meres, mosses, etc.) - presence of a nature tourism potential - presence of protected areas, SIC, UNESCO World Heritage areas - presence of local entrepreneurship

actions Action 1 Project Committee Action 2 Issuing joint promotional material Action 3 Creation of a newsletter and a web site Action 4 Organisation of international events on nature tourism and birdwatching and project of the network implementation International Po Delta Birdwatching Fair Census of birds & Creation of naturalistic pathway Project on Environment for schools & Training Creation of promotional material & Conventions

total budget (€) Public Funds  78% Private Funds  22% TOTAL 9.550, , , ,00 Project Committe , , , , , ,00 Joint promo material TOTAL , , , , ,00 Web site Newsletter Internat. Event + Net Impl , , , , , ,00

legal aspects Project Committee Signature on the 30 th of April 2004 of a Cooperation Agreement 1.Definition of each partner’s role 2.Definition of the Project Management Committee’s responsibilities 3.Commitment by each partner to respect the financial procedures Other/Future partners Will sign an additional Cooperation Agreement with the Project Committee 1.role 2.responsibilities 3.financial procedures

the different LEADER management procedures of each Country and also of the different regions within the same Country, which delayed the decision time very much and prevent the LAGs from respecting the procedural MA deadlines lessons lernt…. ……difficulties &……”successes” visitors, 124 exhibitors to the IPDBF 2004 at this first stage over 50 entrepreneurs on the local nature tourism web-site census of birds children paintings participating to the LUONTO competition

added value of the project related to the LAP at a local level increase of the visitors qualification of the local offer promotion and marketing of the wetland areas improvement of the relationships among public and private actors operating in fragile and protected areas such as the wetlands

Thank for your kind attention !!!! To contact us: DELTA 2000 Soc. Cons. a r.l. Strada Luigia, San Giovanni d'Ostellato (FE) Tel /694 Fax To contact us: DELTA 2000 Soc. Cons. a r.l. Strada Luigia, San Giovanni d'Ostellato (FE) Tel /694 Fax