"Philippi Park"
SOCIETY
CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
TOPIC:
Initiative
SUBMITTED FROM:
Επιστημονική ομάδα Οψόμεθα εις Φιλίππους
Objective Action
There are two main objectives of the initiative. Firstly, it aims to create and implement a Holistic Development Model that mobilizes human resources and recognizes, utilizes, and protects the rich environmental, agricultural, and cultural heritage of 8,500 years of history in the cultural landscape of Philippi - Amphipolis. The goal is to transform it into a destination of Excellence with global radiance, known as "Philippi Park."
Secondly, the initiative seeks to bring together young and experienced scientists, as well as active citizens, and engage civil society, local government, and other stakeholders in a trajectory of intermunicipal cooperation and regional development. This is to ensure the proper preservation and promotion of the common space, Philippi Park, and to establish a shared identity that fosters social cohesion, economic expansion, tourist development, and safeguards social, cultural, economic, and environmental balance.
Since 2015, the creation of the Holistic Development Model titled "Feasibility and Sustainability Strategic Study of Philippi Park" (Master Plan) has been accomplished. Scientific expertise has been consolidated around the initiative and resulting actions. Trust has been built among the community, associations, and businesses through their active involvement. Funding of €500,000 has been secured to implement the actions derived from the Master Plan.
The Feasibility and Sustainability Strategic Study of Philippi Park (Master Plan) aims to ensure biodiversity, cultural diversity, and the ecosystem. It prioritizes resilience to natural hazards and climate change, promoting participatory practices and equality. Additionally, it seeks to improve quality of life and well-being, with respect for and participation of local communities. Gender equality is a fundamental focus, along with promoting development, employment, income, and livelihood opportunities. The plan also emphasizes economic investments, high-quality tourism, and the development of local capacities, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Target Audience
The initiative primarily targets the local community of Philippi Park, which consists of approximately 127,000 residents belonging to 114 settlements, 8 municipalities, 3 regional units, and 2 regions, as well as the visitors of the area. Additionally, it addresses the municipalities of Kavala, Drama, Doxato, Prosotsani, Amphipolis, Pangaio, N. Zichnis, and Paranesti, as well as the corresponding regions of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and Central Macedonia. It engages with Development Agencies, educational organizations (DI.PAE), research institutions (GEOTEE, INALE), local cultural bodies, local cultural, tourism, and agricultural production businesses, cooperatives, chambers of commerce, young scientists, professionals, and volunteers.
Duration
The initiative of the Philippi Park started informally in 2015, gained legal recognition and action in 2017, and since 2018, with the drafting of the Strategic Feasibility and Sustainability Study of the Philippi Park (Master Plan), the 50 priority actions that emerged as a result have been gradually implemented. The implementation timeline is distributed over a minimum 20-year horizon, depending on the opportunities and threats of the external environment, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the internal capacity. However, the framework for the preservation and promotion of the landscape represents an ongoing and continuous process.
Description
If we consider that the main vision is to bring together young and experienced scientists and active citizens with the aim of creating and implementing a holistic Development Model, which will transform the ancient natural agro-cultural environment of great historical and national significance in the plain of Philippi into a destination of Excellence with global radiance - under the name "Philippi Park", then the Strategic Long-Term Action Plan was designed to include the following steps:
1st step - Proper functioning of a scientist and scientific idea incubator, namely the Scientific Team "Looking at Philippi" (achieved).
2nd step - Capitalization of the network of contacts/registration of new members/letters of consent through:
-Collaborations with Professional Bodies, Research and Institutional Bodies (achieved).
-Social Support/Acceptance (achieved).
-Self-funding actions (partially achieved).
-Leveraging financial tools (partially achieved).
3rd step - Funding of a Strategic Feasibility and Sustainability Study for Philippi Park (Master Plan) (achieved).
4th step - Preparation of a Strategic Feasibility and Sustainability Study for Philippi Park (Master Plan) (partially achieved, awaiting funding for the Spatial Planning Study of Philippi Park).
5th step - Implementation of the Strategic Feasibility and Sustainability Study for Philippi Park (Master Plan) (started in 2018).
6th step - Completion of "Philippi Park" initiative
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Impact on Society
The "Opsometha" organization has implemented 16 projects/actions and completed 427 consultations over a period of 8 years with local government agencies, civil society, academic-scientific-research organizations, businesses, relevant ministries, municipal and regional services, and antiquities authorities. These projects/actions and their outcomes involve: a) Recognition, preservation, and development of the region's culture, agricultural production, environmental wealth, and tourism, b) Education and awareness of citizens/professionals on environmental issues, sustainability, development, quality of life, culture, tourism, agricultural production, and the environment c) Preservation of the authenticity of cultural heritage, history, and traditions by ensuring their protection in contemporary use.
Some indicative examples of projects/actions are:
Creation and registration of a distinctive brand name and unique logo for the new integrated destination of Philippi Park (implemented internally) - 2 researchers, 3 volunteers.
Mapping of the tourism, environmental, and cultural assets on Google Maps and GIS (implemented internally) - 3 researchers, 10 volunteers, 18 collaborating organizations.
Interconnection of all points of interest through common narratives and creation of thematic tourist packages (implemented internally) - 2 researchers, 2 volunteers, 13 collaborating businesses.
Study and location of a visitor management and information center for promoting Philippi Park (implemented through a collaborative project) - 1 Local Government Authority (Municipality).
Development of a unified electronic application for promoting Philippi Park as a destination for all interested parties (implemented through CLLD/LEADER) - 3 Development Companies.
Establishment of Philippi Park as an institution and creation of a management body for Philippi Park (implemented through CLLD/LEADER) - 3 Development Companies.
Study and location of afforestation in the central Tafros of Tenaghi Philippi (implemented internally) - 2 researchers, Forestry Department, Greek Association of Civil Engineers.
Acquisition of a special identity for the Agricultural Products of Philippi Park and promotional activities (exhibitions, websites, festivals, etc.) under the name "Agricultural Basket of Philippi Park" (implemented internally) - 3 researchers, 20 volunteers, 48 collaborating businesses.
Mapping of Via Egnatia: Digital recording of Apostle Paul's hiking route using CLOUD GIS in the regions of Kavala, Drama, and Serres (implemented through the Ministry of Interior Affairs) - 5 researchers, 12 volunteers.
Pangaion Mountain Forum (implemented through CLLD/LEADER) - Network of tourism businesses for the promotion of Pangaion Mountain and creation of tourist packages - 4 researchers, 5 volunteers, 15 tourism businesses, 12 cultural associations.
Some indicative examples of education/awareness initiatives are:
Brevet Philippi 2018-2022 (implemented with the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) - International cycling tourism event covering 210 km that passes through and connects Philippi Park, certified under the standards of the French Cycling Federation - Participants: 240 athletes, 82 collaborating organizations, 12 cultural associations.
Symposium of Contemporary Art 2021 (implemented through the Ministry of Culture and CLLD/LEADER) - Promotion of regional myths and connection of artists with the cultural landscape - 7 days, 11 artists, 28 tourism and processing businesses.
"Electric Rides in Drama" 2021 (implemented with the Municipality of Drama and Vocational High School of Drama, and through the Green Fund) - 6 days, electric vehicle tour promoting sustainable transportation - collaboration with local businesses, schools, and citizens.
International Half Marathon "In the Footsteps of Apostle Paul" (implemented with the Municipality of Kavala, SEGAS, SEVAS, Metropolis of Kavala, European Sports Committee) - Organization of the event, securing sponsorships, and coordination of parallel activities, 8 tourism and processing businesses.
Awareness and information campaign for farmers regarding Rational Use of Agricultural Pesticides and Empty Container Management 2022 (implemented through CLLD/LEADER) - Action aiming at local development, 4 trainers, 10 consultations, 400 participating farmers.
"Discover Philippi Park" (implemented internally) - 30 experiential educational activities for citizens, 12 tour guides, 1 botanist, 30 volunteers, 2000 participants, 40 civil society organizations, 30 local businesses.
Initiative Location
The Philippi Park is defined as the rural-cultural environment located between the archaeological site of Philippi and the archaeological site of Amphipolis, encompassing a valley of 100,000 hectares within the boundaries of Mount Pangaion, Symvolon, Falakro, Menoikio, and Orvilos. The Philippi Park area includes 114 settlements, 8 municipalities, and 2 regions. The municipalities of Amphipolis, Drama, Kavala, Doxato, Paranesti, Pangaio, Prosotsani, Nea Zichni, and Neurókopi form the cultural landscape. The most significant residential and urban centers include Drama, Eleftheroupoli, and Kavala.
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Working with Organization
In the geographic region of Philippi Park, numerous organizations collaborate and work together with the scientific team and its resources, focusing exclusively on the improvement and promotion of the ancient Philippi area in the regions of Kavala, Drama, and Serres.
Close cooperation has been established through various activities and projects with the Regional Authority of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and its regional units, municipalities (Kavala, Drama, Pangaio, Doxato, Prosoxi, Amphipolis, Nea Zichni), the Development Agencies of the respective regions (Kavala, Drama, Serres), the Ephorates of Antiquities in Drama and Serres, the Chamber of Commerce of Kavala, the International University of Greece, the Democritus University of Thrace - Department of Architecture, the Technical Chamber of Eastern Macedonia, the Institute of Fisheries Research, cultural associations from at least 25 settlements, LEADER and Local Action Groups (LAGs), as well as business entities in the tourism, processing, and agricultural sectors.
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Workers Participation
The interdisciplinary team "Opsometha es Philippi" consists of a large scientific workforce. The primary goal of the team is to connect innovative partners and engaged citizens for the implementation of bottom-up holistic methods for interregional development through the integration of culture, tourism, and the environment. Opsometha is dedicated to the preservation, management, and promotion of the cultural landscape of Philippi-Amphipolis, which is referred to as Philippi Park, as mentioned above.
Comprising 50 professionals with different specialties such as tourism, cultural management, architecture, agricultural production, cross-border development, education, economy, history, and archaeology, "Opsometha eis Philippous" employs scientists on project-based contracts according to their respective activities. Additionally, they collaborate with over 70 volunteers who support the organization's initiatives. The team heavily relies on the voluntary work and contributions of its members, especially its supporters and friends-volunteers, as well as the cooperation of other individuals or legal entities. Simultaneously, there is the possibility of collaborating with young researchers at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, as well as offering internships.
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Benefits for Οrganization
The most significant benefit for the organization is the creation of a scientific hub and a pool of scientific ideas around the shared vision of promoting the region as a destination with global radiance. It also involves harnessing their scientific knowledge for research, study, and proposing methods to enhance the environment, development, quality of life, and solving related issues. Therefore, the consolidation of 120 young scientists, volunteers, and experienced professionals, while the country's youth emigrate abroad (brain drain), is one of the most important advantages.
Furthermore, the activation and networking at national and international levels, as well as the development of collaborative relationships based on mutual respect and trust with local authorities, regional entities, government agencies, other organizations, NGOs, companies/institutions/organizations/citizen groups with similar goals, University Networks, Cooperatives, Chambers of Commerce, volunteers, etc., contribute to the empowerment and education of members and scientists within the organization. This enables them to build a multicultural framework of specialized young individuals, promoting interaction with experienced professionals and creating a framework for meaningful intergenerational dialogue.
Finally, through the dissemination of the vision of "Philippi Park" and the implementation of the Master Plan, collaborations and networking with other entities/organizations at the local, national, and international levels, the informal group of young individuals that started in 2015 and acquired legal form in 2017 has evolved into a reliable partner, knowledgeable and supportive of civil society. They possess a vision, goals, and knowledge in the field of holistic intergenerational development.
Connection with Global Goals
