ECOVAST
ECOVAST, the European Council for
the Village and Small Town, was set up in 1984 to further the well-being of
rural communities, and the safeguarding of the rural heritage, throughout
Europe. Its formal aims are:
- to foster the economic, social and cultural vitality and the
administrative identity of rural communities throughout Europe; and
- to safeguard, and to promote the sensitive and imaginative
renewal of; the built and natural environments of such
communities.
ECOVAST's membership has grown
rapidly, to over 500 members in 28 countries in East and West Europe. The
membership is widely drawn, to include individuals, government and
non-government bodies, from local to international level. ECOVAST can thus act
as a bridge between decision makers and those who are active at local level,
between experts and practitioners. It operates mainly as a network, to assist
mutual support among its membership in pursuit of their activity in rural areas.
It has national sections in Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom and planned in other
countries. These provide a focus for exchange and activity in each country, to
benefit its rural communities and rural heritage.
ECOVAST's policy approach for rural Europe is set out in our "Strategy
for Rural Europe", published in 1991 and updated in 1994; this has been
translated into many European languages, and widely distributed. It has
published policy documents on "Traditional Rural Buildings", and on "Agriculture
and Forestry - sustaining their future in Europe", together with a Manual on
creation of Heritage Trails. An Internet Website will be opened in autumn
1998.
ECOVAST has consultative status with the
Council of Europe, and the European Commission; and has good working relations
with many other European organisations. It played an active part in the European
Countryside Campaign 1987-88, and has taken a strong stand on certain crucial
issues, notably the protest against the now discontinued systematisation
programme in Romania and the review of Brown coal mining in Central
Europe.
ECOVAST has active working groups on rural
architecture; rural development; and rural tourism. It organises conferences,
seminars and other events, and sends technical missions to advise on rural
development and heritage protection. It takes part in major practical projects,
such as the
Heritage Trails Project in Slovenia and Bulgaria,
and the Wine Traditions Network (WITRANET) project, funded by the European
Commission.
Within the broad framework of ECOVAST, a
group of research and consultancy units has set up a formal network, under the
title ECOVAST Associates, to undertake research, consultancy and action projects
to promote the well-being of rural Europe.
Information Source
Prepared by
...
Michael Dower
Secretary General, ECOVAST
c/o
CCRU, Cheltenham & Gloucester College, Swindon Road,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK,
GL50 4AZ
Telephone (+44
1242) 544031 Facsimile (+44 1242)
544031
E-Mail
[email protected]