ALAS – All About Salt, Final Report 31 March 2003
All About Salt
ERDF No: 99.08.29.008.BG
PHARE No: 00-0052
Final activity report
31 March 2003
Contents
- Project contractual informationpage 3
- Dynamics of the partnershippage 5
- Organization of the original partnership
- Evolution during the project
- Steering methods used
- Monitoring methods employed
- Achievementspage 8
- Actions carried out
- Interregional actionspage 9
- Local actionspage 17
- Lesvos page 18
- Figueira da Fozpage 21
- Piran page 28
- Pomorie page 31
- Explanation of difficulties encountered and of changes decided during the course of the project page 35
- Actual results versus expected resultspage 36
- Analysis of the added value created by co-operationpage 36
- Future of the projectpage 37
- The project in the future: actions development plan
- The project in the future: financing plan
- Communication plan and dissemination of results
- Project consolidation and expansion plan:
demonstration and transfer of experience
5. Overall commentspage 40
List of annexespage 41
Delivered by:
Development Company of Lesvos Prefectural Authority
Kontourioti 1
Ktirio Nomarchias Lesvou
GR-81100 Mytiene
Greece
Tel, 0030 2251 048 114 / 0030 2251 044 956
Fax 0030 2251 048 115
e-mail: /
Period covered by the Final activity report:
15 December 1999 to 15 December 2002 (the whole project period).
Previous reports:
Two Progress reports have been delivered during the project, the first covering the period 15 December 1999 – 31 December 2000, the second 1 January – 31 December 2001.)
The Interim report was dated on 15June 2002.
All technical activity reports have been compiled by:
Hjalmar Dahm (Assistant project manager, AENAL)
Website: or
Project contractual information
Acronym of the project: ALAS
Official title: All About Salt
Area of co-operation: Economic development of the cultural heritage of the regions in order to maintain or create permanent jobs (ECOS-Ouverture theme 4).
Working language: English.
Principal Partner No 1:
Development Company of Lesvos Prefectural Authority
Kontourioti 1
Ktirio Nomarchias Lesvou
GR-81100 Mytilene
Greece
Tel, 0030 2251 048 114
Fax 0030 2251 048 115
e-mail: /
web site:
Coordinator of the project: Spiros Efstratiou (project manager)
Assistant project manager: Hjalmar Dahm
Chairman of the Principal Partner No 1: Dimitris Rentetakos
(Same address as AENAL)
Member state: Greece
ERDF No: 99.08.29.008.BG
PHARE No: 00-0052
ERDF start date of contract: 15 December 1999
ERDF final date of the period of work: 15 December 2002
ERDF final date for payments: after submission of final report, which is due latest 31 March 2003
PHARE start date of contract: 1 December 2000
PHARE final date contract: 1 December 2002
ERDF:
Last ERDF budget approved: 15 December 1999 (Grant-letter from 29/12/99)
Total budget for ERDF partners: 876.100 Euro
ERDF contribution: 655.410 Euro in total
Percentage of ERDF contribution: 74,81%
Paid until now (first and second advances): 524 .328 Euro
Percentage of the total amount: 80%
Organization responsible for the financial management: AENAL, see above.
Accountant: Thanasis Stavrakis, see AENAL above.
PHARE:
Last PHARE budget approved: 14 November 2000 (Grant contract No. 00-0052, dated 30 November 2000)
Total budget for PHARE partners: 509.994,2 Euro
PHARE contribution: 382.495 Euro
Percentage of PHARE contribution: 74,99%
Paid until now (first advance and second advances): 305.996 Euro
Percentage of the total amount: 80% of total Phare contribution.
Organization responsible for the financial management: Municipality of Piran (Obcina Piran), Principal Partner No 3
Local coordinator: Tanja Franca, Senior consultant
Tartinijev trg 2, SLO-6330 Piran, Slovenia
Tel. 00386 5 67 10 300
Fax 00386 5 67 10 309
E-mail:
Project manager: Robert Turk, Regional Institute for the Conservation of Natural Heritage, Piran, Slovenia
- Dynamics of the partnership
2.1.Organisation of the initial partnership
The organisation of the partnership has not been modified since the start of the project:
Each local partner area has created a Local Steering Committee composed by representatives of all local associate partners and other opted members as observers.
For Lesvos the LSC is composed by the four partners and the two additional partners:
-Development Company of Lesvos Prefectural Authority (AENAL), who acts as principal partner No 1 and as such is lead partner for the global ALAS project and responsible of the ERDF funding
-Prefecture of Lesvos (associate partner No 1)
-Hellenic Saltworks S.A. (associate partner No 2)
-University of the Aegean (associate partner No 3)
-Municipality of Polichnitos (additional partner)
-Agrotouristic – Agro-artisanal Co-operative of Women of Polichnitos (additional partner).
Chairperson: Dimitris Akriotis, Vice Prefect of Lesvos.
For Figueira da Foz, the LSC is composed by three partners:
-Municipality of Figueira da Foz (principal partner No 2),
-Regional Environment Directorate for the Region Centro (associate partner No 1)
-Sociedade Figueira Praia S.A. (additional partner)
(The Association of Salt-producers of Figueira was supposed to become additional partner, but has not yet been formally created).
Chairperson: Catarina Monteiro (until 30/09/01), after that date: Sonia Pinto (Project manager)
Consultants: Mãe d’água (Renato Neves and Rui Rufino)
For Piran, the LSC is composed as follows:
-Commune (Obscina) of Piran (principal partner No 3, and in charge of the PHARE finances of the project)
-Regional Institute for the Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage, Piran (associate partner No 1)
-Maritime Museum Sergej Masera, Piran (associate partner No 2)
-Ornithological Association “Ixobrychus” (associate partner No 3)
Chairperson: Vojka Stular, Mayor of Piran.
For Pomorie, the LSC is composed as follows:
-Municipality of Pomorie (principal partner)
-Tourist Council of Pomorie (associate partner)
-Municipal Museum and Gallery in Pomorie (additional partner)
-Cultural club “Prosveta” (additional partner)
-Health Resort Complex, Pomorie (additional partner)
-Pomorie Saltworks Co. (additional partner)
-Solari-98 Ltd. (additional partner)
-25 Centuries Pomorie Foundation (additional partner)
Chairperson: Milcho Skumov
The interregional part of the project is directed by the Project Management Committee (PMC). It is composed by the following permanent members elected by the four Local Steering Committees:
-Lesvos: Theodora Petanidou (chair person, University of the Aegean);
-Figueira da Foz: Catarina Monteiro (until 30 September 2001), Sonia Pinto (from 1 October 2001);
-Piran: Robert Turk;
-Pomorie: Milcho Skumov;
together with opted members (chairpersons of the Technical Working Groups):
-TWG 1 (basic issues): Spiros Efstratiou, Lesvos;
-TWG 2 (management, environment): Antonio Martins, Figueira da Foz;
-TWG 3 (restoration and construction): Renato Neves, Figueira da Foz;
-TWG 4 (training, co-operatives, marketing): Flavio Bonin, Piran;
-TWG 5 (cultural heritage and salt museums): Zora Zagar, Piran;
-TWG 6 (tourism issues): Elena Kafadarova, Pomorie;
Secretary: Hjalmar Dahm, assistant project manager, Lesvos.
2.2.Evolution during the project
The project has been managed in the same way as from the start and only the following addition has been considered necessary:
In order to guarantee the correctness of the publications produced through the project (technical letters, general leaflets, final publication etc), an Editorial committee was elected at the Project Management Committee in May 2002. It is composed of:
-Theodora Petanidou (chairperson, University of the Aegean);
-Renato Neves (Mãe d’água, Lisbon);
-Andrej Sovinc (International Union for Nature Conservation, IUCN, Ljubljana) and
-Milcho Skumov (Project Manager Pomorie, University of Burgas).
2.3.Steering methods used
The project has been directed by the Project Management Committee (PMC), which has met on three occasions during 2001 and four times in 2002:
-March 2001 in Lesvos,
-June 2001 in Pomorie,
-September 2001 in Figueira da Foz,
-March 2002 in Lesvos,
-May 2002 in Piran,
-September 2002 in Pomorie and
-December 2002 in Lesvos.
For a more detailed description see further down (Interregional events).
The minutes from the PMC meetings are found in annex 02.
Many frequent exchanges have been done via e-mails in between the meetings, often on a daily basis. Principal Partner No 1 has been in charge of this networking.
The ERDF and PHARE partners have also regulated their relations through written local partnership agreements that mainly regulate the financial aspects between the different partners.
2.4.Monitoring methods employed
The members of the PMC have at each occasion thoroughly studied the periodical progress reports from all partners, both concerning interregional actions and local topics. These reports have regularly been sent to the PMC members and the members of the Technical Working Groups.
An updated timetable that resumes all actions, both on interregional and on local levels is found as annex 01. Examples of interregional and local progress reports are given in the minutes from interregional meetings (annex 02).
3. Achievements
3.1.Actions carried out
The actions carried out are divided in:
-interregional (3.1.1.) and
-local (3.1.2) actions:
-Lesvos, page 18
-Figueira da Foz, page 21
-Piran, page 28
-Pomorie, page 31
Updated timetables
Updated timetables that show the different phases in the work (start, execution and end) for interregional and local sites’ actions are found in annex 01.
3.1.1. Interregional actions
The interregional actions are clearly defined in the project description (called Annex 4 of the Grant letter for ERDFand Annex 1 for the PHARE partners). The Project Management Committee and the Local Steering Committees have all endeavoured to fulfil these. Due to problems which are explained further down (“Difficulties encountered”) some actions of minor importance have been cancelled.
The listing generally follows the order in the project budget:
A. Studies and experts’ reports
The first meeting of the Project Management Committee (March 2001 in Lesvos) defined the frames of all interregional studies and further decided to divide the responsibilities of the work between the partners as follows below. All interregional studies and reports are found in their complete versions.
-The interregional project work plan has regularly been made and updated by Lesvos. Annex 03 shows an example of an interregional work plan. It was discussed and revised at each meeting of the Project Management Committee.
-Feasibility check, external evaluations: an action shared between all partners. Audits have been carried out in all sites. Piran and Pomorie were audited in December 2001, Lesvos and Figueira in both December 2001 and June 2002.
The audit certificates for Piran and Pomorie have been sent to the Commission in May 2002 together with the interim report for these two sites.
For Lesvos and Figueira da Foz, the audit certificates were joined to the Interim report (June 2002).
The final audit certificates for the whole project period will be sent to the Commission before April 30.
No other checks or external evaluations have been judged necessary to make, principally due to the continuous work and regularly held meetings of the Project Management Committee and at a later stage also the Editorial Committee to systematically check and evaluate the progress and quality of the produced results.
-Compilation of economic information: This study - of prime importance - was managed by Lesvos, under the entire responsibility of AENAL. The study describes the present situation of salt production and markets in Europe. A special attention is given to the four countries covered by the project. Annex 04.
-Guidelines for management plans, and compilation of the management experiences: This study was carried out under the responsibility of Figueira da Foz. It describes the ecological importance of salinas as manmade wetlands and the importance of setting up a management plan for each site. The legal frames of each partner area are shown and the planning process for setting up management plans for protected areas is clearly recapitulated. Annex 05.
-Guidelines construction/restoration and operation plans: A study made under the responsibility of Figueira da Foz. The study is based on concrete experiences of restoration of salinas in different areas of Europe. A detailed case study is based on the experience gained in Figueira da Foz when restoring a salina under the ALAS programme. The study also identifies several community initiatives that can support similar actions in other areas. Annex 06.
-Compile experience from pilot projects and from operation: The announcement (call for tenders) was intended to be made in summer 2002, but due to lack of time this was cancelled. The Project Management Committee did not consider this study as a priority.
-Guidelines training: This study was carried out in Piran and the results were presented at the Annual Conference in May 2002. The study is a collection of experiences and examples from several European sites were salters are (or until recently were) trained or where training programs can be set up. Annex 07.
-Ideas and guidance concerning co-operative structures, compile experience: The study has been made in Lesvos under the entire responsibility of AENAL. The report analyses the co-operatives’ current situations in both EU member states and in Bulgaria. It also introduces the role of a “Connection unit” for promotional campaigns and advice. Annex 08.
-Consulting marketing measures: The study was made in Lesvos under the entire responsibility of AENAL and contains a market opportunity analysis and strategies for the traditionally produced salt. Annex 09.
-Guidance and co-ordinating advice for the compilation of knowledge and concerning salt-museums: This study was made in Piran and a detailed pre-study was presented at the Annual Conference in May 2002. The study is based on the experiences from the only salt museum that existed in one of the ALAS sites, namely the Museum of Salt-making in the Sečovlje salinas south of Piran. The curator of the museum and an expert on cultural heritage have not only shared their knowledge of how to set up and run a museum, but also collected information from other similar experiences in Europe. Annex 10.
-Consulting concerning tourism: The study was made under the responsibility of Pomorie, written by a team of specialists from the University of Sofia. The first results were presented at the Annual Conference in May 2002. The study considers all possible links between salt and salinas and the development of sustainable tourism. Some of the results are based on the answers to a questionnaire that was sent to the partners of the project. Annex 11.
-Expert support on dissemination etc.: Under the responsibility of Lesvos. This is not a study, but considered as a fund to support all people that have contributed to the dissemination of the project (authors, photographers) through the ALAS Newsletter, video, brochures, web-site, articles in journals and periodicals advertising the ALAS, conference circular, conference announcements etc. It could also have been used to make pamphlets in English for promoting ALAS and opening networking possibilities. Due to lack of time and formal agreements, this “envelope” was never used.
B. Interregional events
All programmed interregional meetings and events have been carried out, although delayed due to the late start of the project. The dates that follow are the official dates (working days); they do not include days of travelling and earlier venues of some partners to assist in the preparation of the meetings.
28-31 March 2001:
The first Project Management Committee (PMC) meeting coincided with the Launching Conference. During the conference in Lesvos, the ALAS Co-operation Charter was accepted and signed by the four partners. The Charter fixes the aims and the activities of both interregional and local actions. It is open for revision, but this has not been judged necessary. The Launching Conference was attended by 7 to 11 representatives from each partner site. During these days, many members of the 6 Technical Working Groups also came together to organise their work, essential for the good functioning of the project.
23-24 June 2001:
The meeting was a specific meeting for the Project Management Committee. 2-3 representatives came from each site to Pomorie. The main scope of the meeting was to evaluate the actions carried out and to programme coming actions and their repartition between partners.
29 September – 2 October 2001:
The Annual Conference in Figueira da Foz was a good opportunity also for the PMC to meet and appreciate the progress of the work.
9-10 March 2002:
A specific PMC meeting was held in Lesvos. The project work plan was revised and updated.
17-20 May 2002:
The Annual Conference in Piran allowed the PMC members to meet every morning on various topics related mainly to the interregional tasks, actions and publications.
6-9 September 2002:
A Project Management Committee meeting was held in Pomorie. This was the last opportunity to take the last decisions on remaining actions and to speed up the pace. At this meeting the local salt museum was inaugurated.
29 November - 2 December 2002:
The ALAS Final Conference was followed by a last PMC meeting, held at the University campus of Lesvos. Marco di Martino from the European Commission was an appreciated participant to both the conference and the PMC meeting.
Minutes (or Proceedings) from all these meetings are found as annex 02.
C. Assistance, secondment and study visits
These mini-funds have been used at several occasions:
-Representatives from Lesvos went to Figueira (November 2000 and June 2001) to handle both administrative aspects and work with common topics (project work plan, interregional studies, web-site, etc.), meet with the different structures involved (Mayor, civil servants, developers and salters). Specific reports exist from these trips (both from AENAL and Mãe d’água, the Portuguese consultants).
-Exchanges have further taken place between salters from Figueira da Foz and Castro Marim.
-Salters and site managers from Piran have also gone to Guérande to achieve experience from this successful salt producing site.
D. Promotion and publications
The Project Management Committee in Lesvos, March 2001, defined and divided up the responsibilities of the different publications and related actions according to the following:
-Quarterly ALAS Newsletter. Lesvos has been in charge of the editing (executed by the assistant project manager), printing and distribution. The local partners have actively contributed to the Newsletters through articles and local reports. 7 printed issues have been produced. Newsletters 1-3 were printed in only 200 copies, whereas 4-7 have were made in 500.
More than 150 free subscriptions have been sent out, both to other salt producing sites (Guérande, Castro Marim, Sicily, Ston…), European salt museums and to organisations and experts on wetland management (Ramsar Convention, Tour du Valat, MedWet, Greek Wetland Centre…). Many industrial salt producers have also asked for – and obtained – subscriptions (Salins du Midi, Salt Institute…).
-The first Newsletter (number 0) was made in December 2000 and sent electronically only to the ALAS internal network (all partners and contact persons). The main information given was the addresses to all people involved, and also the first announcement of the Launching Conference. At this stage the partners had still not received their first advance.
-Newsletter1/June 2001 described the general aims of ALAS and the situation in the four partner sites. It also reported from the Launching Conference.