Green Belt Nature Centre
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The goal of the project was to establish a regionally, nationally and internationally operating centre, which would encompass operational entities important from the viewpoint of the region’s development as well as those related to the nature, sustainable development, cooperation between border regions and nature and cultural tourism.

Main activities

• Conducting an analysis of the current tourism situation in the region regarding its products and services, • Carrying out a location study for the centre by weighing alternative locations and completing a comparative assessment of their effect, • Creation of a business plan, investment calculations and a financial plan for the centre, • Producing an operations plan and an exhibition content plan for the foundation for building potential programme services for local and regional activities, • Creating a cross-border cooperation model for the centre, • Publication of the impressing visual piece ‘Ilomantsi – Centre of the Green Zone’, which presented the nature of the region and its cultural history as well as sustainable development projects in the area.

Achievements

The project conducted analysis of the current tourism situation in the region regarding its products and services. In addition, a location study was completed for the centre by creating an effect study of the alternative locations and completing a comparative assessment of the effects. Of the locations for the centre, Parppeinvaara was seen as best combining nature and culture with the existing cultural environment when also considering the buildings already in the area. A business plan, investment calculations and a financial plan were created for the centre and they were testing using market research. An operations plan and an exhibition content plan were made for the centre, which were used as a foundation for building potential programme services for local and regional activities. A transborder cooperation model was also developed for the centre. In addition, the project published the impressing visual piece ‘Ilomantsi – Centre of the Green Zone’, which presented the nature of the region and its cultural history as well as sustainable development projects in the area. Cooperation with several stakeholders was engaged in during the project and further action, the will to invest, and other cooperation activities were discussed. The project created the business concept and its content framework for an information centre for the natural environment, Karelian culture and sustainable development. However, the actual centre was not yet established.