Community building as the key to nature protection
Dominik Noll, Social Ecology Vienna, Klagenfurt University, Vienna (AT)
On the Greek island of Samothraki, a rather uncommon but promising story unfolds. Through socio-ecological research with citizen science participation, we initiated a bottom-up process, in order to support a sustainability transition and turn the island into a UNESCO MAB. Our socio-metabolic perspective helps to think of nature protection as a result of an integrative process in coupled human-natural systems. Eventually, the strengthening of synergies between agricultural, tourism and local services, will lead to a reduction of environmental pressures on the island's natural ecosystems.