Description
Past experiences demonstrated that growth-oriented industrial economy leads to environmental disaster. Sustainable communities meet current and future challenges through integrated solutions, long-term perspectives, innovations and creativeness dealing with issues connected to protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, conservation of water, use of reusable resources, social wellbeing and a responsive, moral, diverse and financially viable base to ensure economic security. The aim of the project is to promote a more sustainable way of thinking, being, and living on the planet. To reach the project’s objectives, we teamed up with Sólheimar eco-village in Iceland that is renowned for its ecological, artistic, and international community ethics and with The Norwegian Forest Owners' federation (Norway). Lecturers, experts and students of the Biotechnical centre Naklo, The Norwegian Forest Owners' federation and Sólheimar will work in a team to find creative and innovative ideas for creation and developing of multicultural, sustainable projects that link the protection of natural and cultural heritage, education for sustainable development and green economy to help the transition of society to a more sustainable life style and community.
Summary of project results
Project: B4NATURE: Sustainable and creative well-BEing FOR man and NATURE Society needs: 1. Education at all levels can be a powerful tool in promoting sustainable development. 2. Activation of community conscience could be achieved by multicultural, sustainable models that connect protection of natural and cultural heritage, education for sustainable development (ESD) and green economy. Project aims: 1. Our project was focused on achievement of combined cognitive - effective learning outcomes for ESD. We wanted to have a positive impact on students’ values, attitudes and behaviour that would reflect on the entire community. 2. The aim of the project was to enlighten good practices of ecological lifestyle and sustainable solutions in Iceland and Norway that meet current and future climatic, food and environmental challenges through integrated solutions. Project outcomes: During the project we organized staff and students’ training, lectures and discussions with Icelandic and Norwegian partners. We promoted and supported similar sustainable initiatives in Slovenia. Project outcomes benefited students, staff and local communities.
Summary of bilateral results
Ecological community Sólheimar (
http://www.solheimar.is/ ) was in particular important in our project as a model of ecological and sustainable community and as a model of the reverse integration of the entire society of non-disabled people regarding disabled people inside it. The Norwegian Forest Owners' Federation (
http://www.nordicforestry.org/about.asp ) is the umbrella organisation for the 8 regional forest owners' cooperatives in Norway. The Norwegian landscape management model could be adapted also to other conditions, since many countries presented similar problems regarding forest management and biodiversity protection. Researchers in BC Naklo started a strong collaboration with professionals/staff from Iceland and Norway that promotes enrichment of both sides. We strongly believe that Slovenian cultural and natural heritage must be connected to the international environment, since new bottom up initiatives as sustainable communities and cooperatives could be reinforced by this mutual cross-fertilization.