The
project “Ecovillages for Sustainable Rural Development” financed by the
EU’s Baltic Sea Region Programme, 2007–2013, which started in February
2010, is approaching its completion, delivering a number of significant
results. Aimed at fostering the development of ecovillages as a more
sustainable way of living in rural areas of the Baltic Sea Region, the
project has been implemented by project partners from Lithuania (the
lead partner), Finland, Latvia, Poland and Sweden. In addition, the
project has involved associated partners from Belarus, Finland, Germany,
Russia and Sweden. Simona Griškute reports.
The
core project results include launching of 3 manuals on: eco-settlement
practices, and environmentally friendly technologies applied in
ecovillages; socio-cultural aspects of ecovillage establishment and
governance; and green business and entrepreneurship. By identifying and
documenting many inspirational examples and case studies, the manuals
aim at contributing to the further development, application, and
spreading of the sustainable solutions and innovations tailored in
ecovillages, and regaining the balance between the ecological,
socio-cultural and economic dimensions of sustainable living on a
broader society level.
We
are happy to announce that the manuals are available in the project’s
website for a free download in English, Swedish, Finnish, Latvian,
Lithuanian and Polish (more details further down). Manuals have also
been printed and spread in the libraries of the Baltic Sea Region
countries as well as other distribution channels.
By
identifying and documenting many inspirational examples and case
studies, the manuals aim at contributing to the further development,
application and spreading of the sustainable solutions and innovations
tailored in ecovillages, and regaining the balance between the
ecological, socio-cultural and economic dimensions of sustainable living
on a broader societal level.
The
project team has also formulated a set of policy recommendations and
delivered them to responsible EU institutions. Six issues: Energy; land
use; planning & building regulation; public funding & support;
alternative business & organizational models; education; training;
information dissemination & exchange; and more R&D focus on
eco-living; and alternative food production - as well as potential
reforms to tackle these areas - have been identified in the
recommendations.
They
are addressed to national MEPs, EU institutions and other organizations
on an EU level, in order to improve the development of ecovillages, and
to utilize their full potential as sustainable development drivers of
rural areas. Recommendations have already received positive feedback
from the European Commission, that is considering the requests under the
new legal framework for the 2014-2020 programming period.
In
order to gather valuable knowledge accumulated through the Ecovillage
movement and making it accessible to a broader public - as well as to
facilitate learning for visitors - and to provide income-generation for
ecovillagers, the project has created an 'Ecovillage Road' website. This
is a virtual platform for ecovillages, consultants and related
eco-initiatives to showcase and offer their knowledge, services and
products to the general public in a variety of thematic groups.
Visit www.ecovillageroad.eu!
Visit www.ecovillageroad.eu!
On
the same Ecovillage Road website, visitors can find a guideline for
establishing an internship programme in ecovillages. The handbook is
intended to assist ecovillages in establishing internships that have the
intention to reach out to the wider society with the sustainable living
practices; to strengthen the ecovillages themselves; and to provide the
opportunities for an interested audience to get to know ecovillages.
Another
project result, that is addressed towards leaders of established or
initiated ecovillages, is the Ecovillage 'sustainability self-evaluation
test' that serves as a tool to: a) form a vision of the ecovillage; b)
diagnose the real ecovillage situation; c) assess the gap between vision
and reality; and d) identify what aspects of the ecovillage governance
should be improved. There are short and long versions of the test in six
languages that measure an ecovillage’s real and desirable situation on
six main dimensions by using a 5 point scale.
Last,
but not least, one of the greatest contributions towards sustainable
Europe that was not envisioned at the launching stage of the project is
the formation of Baltic Ecovillage Network (BEN), which is a
transnational umbrella of national ecovillages networks in the BSR. BEN
offers a vehicle to continue the work started by the project towards
societal recognition of the values that ecovillages pursue, and to
transition to sustainable living.
By
delivering the results described, the project team is willing to
greatly contribute to the fostering of ecovillages development both on a
national and international level. For further inspiration and
information about project results, please check the latest project
newsletter and visit the project homepage at www.balticecovillages.eu
The Manuals:
INSPIRING STORIES FROM ECOVILLAGES: EXPERIENCES WITH ECOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES
The manual presents a selection of inspiring stories about solutions for ecological living concerning planning, construction, energy solutions, waste and waste water management, composting and recycling, food production, and transport and commuting.
The manual presents a selection of inspiring stories about solutions for ecological living concerning planning, construction, energy solutions, waste and waste water management, composting and recycling, food production, and transport and commuting.
These
stories are told by the inhabitants of ecovillages around the Baltic
Sea region and aim at providing an inspiration to readers already
familiar with ecovillages, and anyone willing to learn more about a
variety of ecological living solutions. The manual also seeks to enable
the reader to form a tangible and – hopefully – inspiring view of the
Baltic Sea region ecovillages’ variety, particularities and creative
innovativeness, on the one hand, and similarities, familiarity and
respect for tradition on the other.
LINK: http://balticecovillages.eu/inspiring-stories-ecovillages-experiences-ec...
LINK: http://balticecovillages.eu/inspiring-stories-ecovillages-experiences-ec...
LIVING IN HARMONY: INSPIRING STORIES FROM ECOVILLAGES
The manual is designed as a virtual tour of European ecovillages. Here, the reader can find a collection of short ‘how we did it’ stories that describe different ecovillage models and the main elements of their design and governance. The stories represent the most interesting and effective best practice to be found in the ecovillage movement in Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.
The manual is designed as a virtual tour of European ecovillages. Here, the reader can find a collection of short ‘how we did it’ stories that describe different ecovillage models and the main elements of their design and governance. The stories represent the most interesting and effective best practice to be found in the ecovillage movement in Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.
The
manual consists of four chapters, each exploring a different stage of
the ecovillage life cycle, starting from the establishment stage - when
the main characteristics of the ecovillage should be decided - and
finishing with the stage when the community becomes stable, has its own
traditions and well-functioning governance, and can become a center
proliferating knowledge about the ecovillage movement based on its own
experiences.
http://balticecovillages.eu/living-harmony-inspiring-stories-ecovillages
http://balticecovillages.eu/living-harmony-inspiring-stories-ecovillages
THE ENTERPRISING ECOVILLAGER: ACHIEVING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
This handbook focuses on green business and entrepreneurship, offering a practical guide on how ecovillages can create business opportunities that adhere to the principles of truly green thinking.
It gives an overview of the different aspects that should be considered by the aspiring ecovillage entrepreneur, and presents examples of successful business stories from various ecovillages around Europe.
This handbook focuses on green business and entrepreneurship, offering a practical guide on how ecovillages can create business opportunities that adhere to the principles of truly green thinking.
It gives an overview of the different aspects that should be considered by the aspiring ecovillage entrepreneur, and presents examples of successful business stories from various ecovillages around Europe.
The
book also strives to remedy the reluctance that many ecovillagers feel
toward business, and demonstrates the ways in which ecovillages are
ideally suited to run businesses that are compatible with the well-being
of both people and planet; the businesses of the future.
Hopefully
the handbook, packed with information, checklists and references to
other books and green concepts, can accompany every enterprising
ecovillager on their path towards successfully creating their own
personal green livelihood.
Simona Griškutė
Specialist
Lietuvos agrarinės ekonomikos institutas
V. Kudirkos g. 18-2, LT-03105 Vilnius
Tel.: +370 5 262 4156
Mob.: +370 611 22839
Email: paštas: simona@laei.lt
Source: http://gen.ecovillage.org/index.php/news/345-creating-baltic-ecovillage-network-ben-baltic-sea-ecovillages-project-has-delivered-a-number-of-significant-results.html
Specialist
Lietuvos agrarinės ekonomikos institutas
V. Kudirkos g. 18-2, LT-03105 Vilnius
Tel.: +370 5 262 4156
Mob.: +370 611 22839
Email: paštas: simona@laei.lt
Source: http://gen.ecovillage.org/index.php/news/345-creating-baltic-ecovillage-network-ben-baltic-sea-ecovillages-project-has-delivered-a-number-of-significant-results.html
