The Municipality of Anafi is one of the newest members of the Sustainable Islands Network. Now DAFNI can count the entire Cyclades as members.
The first visit of DAFNI’s interdisciplinary team consisting of Georgia Kanellopoulou and Giorgos Arvanitis was more than complete. During the long journey to the island we met people from the local community and we discussed matters that concern everyday life and the general function of the Municipality. From the inclusion of the 1st phase of project “Tourist Boats Refuge” under the Special Purpose Development Plan of the South Aegean to the repair of the school building and its creative reuse, from the operation of recycling facilities to waste treatment plants and from the protection of paved footpaths to acquiring a new bus.
During our one-week stay in Anafi, we surveyed public buildings to establish whether they would be eligible for the South Aegean Operational Plan, which is aimed at enhancing energy efficiency. Furthermore, our team has put forward a proposal concerning the protection and promotion of the island’s natural heritage in order to develop environmental tourism and ecotourism. In particular, the project proposed provides for the promotion and mild exploitation of the landscape of the Kalamos peninsula. The Kalamos monolith is a geological formation consisting of a single bulky rock and is considered to be the second largest monolith in the Mediterranean after Gibraltar, making it the most impressive natural site in Anafi.
At the same time, all the trails on the island have been recorded and the needs for the harmonisation of the existing signage with the specifications set out in Ministerial Decision No. 151344/165 (GG 206/Β/30-01-2017) have been identified. Furthermore, it was examined whether it would be feasible to draw cycling routes in the area of Vryssi and trails that would highlight the features of the island’s rural houses architecture. The first spring in Anafi was full of flowerings of particular ecological interest. Ophrys Ferrum Equinum, Ophrys Sicula and Serapia Orientalis Carica are some of the species.
The hospitable land of Anafi hosted us with unparalleled familiarity. We are very grateful to Giannis Patiniotis, municipal councillor, who organised this trip, Mayor Iakovos Roussos and the Municipality’s employees for every minute of this effective cooperation.
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