Charter for the development of mountainous areas

Abstract

Indisputably, the Mountainous Areas have lost the active role they played in the past. Consequently, social and economic inequalities have been created resulting to spatial inequalities and problems of spatial cohesion.

Furthermore, the lack of a specialised national policy on the planning of Mountainous Areas has not allowed the creation of the necessary terms and conditions for the sustainable management of the human activities; neither the natural environment and the need of conservation nor the needs of subsistence, accommodation, economic and biotic development of travel and recreation have been taken into account.

The Charter for the Development of the Mountainous Areas is a text of guidelines aiming at creating a spatial model for the development for the Mountainous Areas of the country. It is also the result of a synthetic and balanced view of the spatial parameters which promote the protection and promotion of the natural and cultural heritage and strengthen the social and economic cohesion.

The aim of the Charter is to identify and record the distinct and analytical actions which aim at the upgrading of these areas, ensuring also the economic self-reliance, the environmental protection and the safeguarding of cultural heritage.