4th Conference

Delta Awareness

Gdansk, Poland
Date: 7th – 10th May, 2012

7th May – workshops for DeltaNet Partners
8th May – study visit
9th - 10th May – International Conference

Venue: Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship
21/27 Okopowa St.
80-810 Gdańsk

During the Conference in Gdańsk we would like to focus on such issues:

1. Educational paths for young people – We would like to present examples of programs for young people – some of them within the school system, from primary to secondary - dealing with the special character, potentials and challenges of the Delta areas. Programs which create awareness through innovative education and trainings, to enable young people to improve their environment by promoting the management and sustainable use of all resources. Programs to promote environmentally aware tourism and use of water routes that increase young people's knowledge and delta awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develop the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and foster attitudes, motivations, and commitments. Examples of innovative education include various tools to educate the public such as print materials, websites, media campaigns, outdoor education etc.

2. Development of sustainable tourism and public awareness – We would like to focus on and gather the best practices regarding the following issues:
- ways of monitoring influx of tourist and sports vessels (kayaks, canoes, fishing boats, tourist boats, windsurfing boards, etc) in order to avoid intensive density at the expanse of environment of the Delta areas.
- ways to increase public awareness of needed restrictions and conditions which have to be imposed on tourism and economic development in the Delta areas in order to prevent the degradation of the nature.
- ways to increase public participation in the life of the Deltas in order to enhance their knowledge of the specific problems of the Delta areas and to get the public involve in looking for the solutions.

The City of Gdansk
Gdansk – a thousand-year old city in the north of Poland, has almost 0,5 million inhabitants (with Sopot and Gdynia creates metropolis of over 1 million people). Major industries are maritime, high tech, logistics, tourism, petrochemical, cosmetics. Very important academic centre educating at good level in different faculties, putting emphasis on learning foreign languages. Gdansk has a unique place in history – World War II started here and the Solidarity Movement, that made communism system to collapse, was established here. Solidarity leader Mr Lech Walesa lives here. Gdansk is also a important tourist destination surrounded by the beaches of the Baltic sea and wild nature forests.

Visit City of Gdansk’s Website www.en.gdansk.gda.pl