It has been a common practice intervening, a posteriori, in post-industrial landscapes and degraded sites due to past human productive activities (like mining), aiming initially at their gradual environmental restoration and, at a second level, projecting their reintegration under modern means and terms into contemporaneity. The present project investigates the most suitable design approach for the rehabilitation of an abandoned quarry field in Central Zagori, in order to create a referential and multifunctional public space for residents and visitors, a landmark that will highlight the characteristic geological structures of the region and will narrate the process of producing the basic local building material that formed the typical architectural and aesthetic physiognomy of Zagori. This project’s goal is to appoint that the minimalistic redesign of the site and the proposal of low budget constructions is able to convert an existing problem into an advantage of the area.
Courseworks
The biodiversity of mountainous areas is rich and it is threatened by climate changes. Mountain forests are particularly important ecosystems and are useful for the society. Climate change threatens their proper function and carries on many risks. Forest fires are the greatest. During the last decades, in Greece, they have become particularly intense. In the future, an increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires is expected, even in higher altitudes.
The purpose of this work is the analysis of the forest fire start possibilities in the mountainous municipality of Zagori. By using Remote Sensing Techniques, as well as Geographical Information Systems, a forest fire risk map was created. Despite the fact that the forests of Zagori are not considered vulnerable to fires, it is proved that the outburst of a forest fire in the region is a quite likely possibility. This finding, combined with the climate change scenarios, is imposing that forest fires are a serious threat for the natural environment in the area and so, special care and actions should be taken.
In this paper, the creation of a susceptibility zonation map for landslide occurrence, using GIS, for the municipality of Zagori, is described. The map consists of five risk zones and was created by seven factors, linearly combined and properly calibrated, according to expert geoscientists as these factors are concerned to contribute to landslide occurrence. Based on this map, it is possible to determine the settlements, which aredirectly threatened by landslides. Moreover, the anticipation ofpotential landslide phenomena is possible. Given that the municipality of Zagori is characterized by intense landslide activity, a techno- economic study is conducted, in order to deal with the landslide that took place in the Provincial Road Petra – Demati. More specifically, an extensive description of the phenomenon is carried out, its causes are interpreted, suggestions for the damage recovery are expressed and an estimation of the total cost of all necessary labor and materials is made, for completing the project.
Focusing on the dipole benefaction - sponsoring, we research, the effect on Zagori’s mountain culture, of the transition from the society of “long duration” to the society of consumption. From the Zagori of benefaction and culture to the brand-Zagori for consumption from the tourism industry. The transition from the pre-industrial society to the modern one impoverishes collectivization and degenerates the concept of benefaction. Modern society adopts the concept of sponsoring, for the merit of which, culture has to prove evidence of economic value. In the competition arena that has been turned into the upmost value due to market hegemony, mountain regions are extremely vulnerable. The process of selling and buying culture seems rather attractive, when social amenities are being constantly reduced and development skyline sinks. Whether, it will be a Zagori for consumption or internal social dynamics are to be found able to regenerate culture in Zagori depends on local and national Greek society. What is certain is that the first choice will lead to the end of Zagori’s culture.
This paper looks at the urban, architectural and social development of the traditional village Dilofo, situated in Central Zagori, Epirus, Greece.
Starting from historical information regarding Zagori and the first references to the existence of Dilofo, previously known as Sopotseli, this study follows the journey of the settlement from its creation as a village to present.
Analysing the spatial planning / design, architectural and construction characteristics of the settlement, the aim is to extract information regarding its formation and development. Social, cultural and financial changes in the area are seen as critical factors.
What issues arise when a village that is ‘alive’ and productive all year round for several centuries, now seems to come to life only during summer and holidays? Which types of interventions compliment or preserve the character of the settlement and which may have a negative effect? How hard is it to keep a balance between ‘development’ / ‘progress’ and respecting the settlement as a ‘monument’ and as part of the area’s heritage?
These are a few questions that are discussed aiming to highlight a route towards a more sustainable and respectful future for Dilofo and similar settlements.
The cooperatives’ institution lies on the borderline of a series of crucial changes. In Zagori region the existence of cooperatives in the past has been decisive for local development. However, in the current social frame the cooperatives’ institution seems degenerated and weakened. Could the strengthening of cooperatives’ institution function as a key component of a robust development of Zagori, in particular, and of mountainous areas, in general? The present study documents the need to modify the current way under which cooperatives function and highlights their implicit role in the social, economic and cultural development of mountain areas, in general, through the case study of the Zagori region’s cooperatives. Through the brief presentation of local history, physical geography of Zagori is correlated to its human geography, aiming at revealing the first cooperatives’ activity range and initial influences; cooperatives that appear either in the form of cultural groups (e.g. Sarakatsani) or of groups of traders (e.g. isnafia). Their idioms and their characteristics are described as binding elements among their members. Current cooperatives active in the area are also presented, as well as the causes of their degeneration in addition with proposals on measures for their adjustment to current socioeconomic frame. Through the analysis, new forms of social structures are revealed, regarding local communities in Zagori; such that could act as means of economic independence, autonomy and social liberation.
The subject of the present study is the local social movements that develop opposing the sitting of an infrastructure or development project. It mainly focuses on the study and analysis of the example of Vovousa, where according to a proposed project, a part of the water flow of Aoos River which flows through the village of Vovousa will be pumped from an upflow point to the nearby lake of Pigon Aoos hydroelectric plant, rising strong opposition from the local community. The proposed project is presented and studied in terms of both techno-economic and social impact. For the study of the social procedures that take place during the creation and the evolution of the social movement, a combined methodology was used. A series of semi-structured interviews both from key persons and simple residents was conducted, while in the same time a systematic observation and recording of any related actions was ensured. Taking part in various procedures of the movement like assemblies, events and info conferences was also part of the studying process. The results of the research indicate that the social movement of Vovousa is not a NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) movement but a mature social movement, with political goals, clear arguments and wide acceptance by the society, locally as well as nationally.
The present study surveys and interprets the attitude, the behavior, the conceptions and the personal experiences of the young people of Zagori region. The prospects of existence of a mountainous society is closely connected with its ability to maintain an important amount of young people within its population, since they represent the age group holding incentives, skills and expectations. The quality survey data were produced with the use of semi- structured interviews and organized with the categorical classification technique. The study’s conclusions were further analyzed in comparison to other similar studies from relative literature as well as to the three similar studies regarding the youth of three other mountain regions: Tzoumerka region, Konitsa and Metsovo. Survey data analysis and results show that the everyday life of the young people seems likes a puzzle composed of contradictive characteristics: tranquility, close connection with the natural environment and the homeplace, also restricted access to education and social isolation.
The concept of carrying capacity is applied in order for the tolerance limits of a place to be searched. In relative literature, urban and coastal areas have mainly been object of study regarding their carrying capacity. Indeed, mountainous areas have not. The present study is aiming at outlining the tourist activity pattern as it has been developed in the mountain village of Monodendri, in Zagori region. At what level is the village considered to be touristically crowded and what are its tolerance limits?
The Tourism Carrying Capacity in Monodendri was methodologically approached through the examination of specific indicators. Several data were analyzed regarding, among else, the number of visitors, the number of accommodation buildings, the water consumption and the carbon footprint. The present study points out a particularly crucial issue and raises the debate on estimating the carrying capacity in the specific social and natural environment of mountainous areas.
Tourism is the main economic activity in Zagori. Its development begins in the
60s, evolving and changing especially in recent years, due to the economic crisis. In this paper, the tourism profile of Zagori is presented, analyzed and evaluated. Data regarding the evolution of visitation, the distribution of Greek and foreign visitors, the stay duration of visitors, the distribution of visitors between East and Midwest Zagori, the main reasons attracting visitors, the problems and deficiencies, the impact of the economic crisis on tourism etc. are examined. Through data analysis and elaboration an objective profile of the local tourism activity’s characteristics is attempted. The analysis is done through the application of Fuzzy Delphi method. The survey was conducted in selected villages of Zagori. It is showed that, among else, there is a significant imbalance of tourism distribution between East and Midwest Zagori, Greek visitors are significantly more than foreigner visitors (at the whole of the region), foreign visitors stay, in average, more days than Greek visitors and economic crisis affected mostly negatively Greek visitors. Moreover, it appears that the three years 2005-2008 were the best regarding the number of visitors attracted and since 2009 there has been a significant reduction in tourism activity that reaches up to 70%.