Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
or imagined resemblances, such as deeply rooted community traditions that have
grown out of the age-old need of mutual help, through their knowledge of nature,
fauna, and often love of singing or walking; and shared modes and methods of
production, such as dairy farming (Debarbieux, 2008). This specificity and vulner-
ability of the latter economic activity in Greece has been recognized and partly
fostered by European funds - through the Common Agricultural Policy - continu-
ing to produce high-quality products targeted towards a thriving market (Louloudis
et al.,
2004). Nonetheless, despite all the human effort that goes into such pro-
duction, in the context of a restructured livestock economy, animal husbandry in
Greece remains for the most part inadequate, impoverished and parochial from
every point of view (Louloudis
et al.,
2004). In sum, necessary and imperative
scientific, institutional and practical interventions towards the rectification of such
multilayered problems of these mountain industries would not only upgrade them
functionally and economically. Such interventions would also promote and safe-
guard the model - much sought by the EU - of multifunctional agriculture and
animal husbandry in mountain landscapes of 'High Nature Conservation Value'
farmland (Louloudis
et al.,
2004, p. 245).
Many of the unfavourable characteristics of Mediterranean mountain areas may
be remedied and rectified - and this process has already started, often to the ben-
efit of local communities. Among natural/environmental resources, the mountain
landscape itself holds a highly priced and prominent place. The stunning beauty of
mountainous Mediterranean landscapes or cliffy coasts is largely the result of tec-
tonic forces, and the unique geographical location and palaeogeographical history
of the region. Generally speaking, landscape preservation and management is of
paramount significance to various aspects and functions of Mediterranean mountain
communities. 'Wild' nature and other environmental resources, cultural heritage of
every form and genre and landscapes of high symbolic/aesthetic value have be-
come much sought-after goods, indeed often valuable commodities, in the context
of a tertiary economic sector boom, the growth of the leisure and recreation in-
dustry and the pursuit of a better quality of life. From a contemporary perspective,
these mountains have represented 'traditional' enclaves and ways of life. Advances
in technology (i.e. energy production alternatives and information/communication
networks) and new institutional contexts (the restructuring of policy-making and
international legislative, regulatory or advisory bodies) have contributed greatly to-
wards these pursuits and opportunities. It is to these that we now turn. In the final
section of the chapter, 'tradition' turns to commodity, through a rediscovery of the
Mediterranean mountains by new thriving markets of various sorts, predominantly
through tourism.
7.5 Commodified mountains
Mountain tourism (Sotiropoulou, 2007), geological tourism (Zouros, 2007) and
ecotourism are just some examples of 'alternative' forms of tourism, which have
