On February 25, 2021, the regional on-line conference "Learning from Experience" was held in the Podkarpackie Region, in connection with the implementation of the project “Preservation and promotion of natural and cultural heritage through GreenWays” (OUR WAY), co-financed by the Interreg Europe 2014-2020 Operational Program.
The conference was attended by over 70 representatives of local and regional governments, entrepreneurs, associations, foundations, NGOs and people involved in the development and promotion of ecotourism in the Podkarpackie Region The speakers included experts in the field of ecotourism, bicycle tourism, and greenways routes. The special guest was Mrs. Mercedes Muñoz - Director of the European Greenways Association from Spain. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Stanisław Kruczek - Member of the Board of the Podkarpackie Region in Rzeszów.
During the conference, Action Plan developed with the participation of members of the Regional Stakeholder Working Group of the OUR WAY project and approved by the Managing Authority of the Interreg Europe 2014-2020 Programme was presented.
The planned effects of the OUR WAY project in the Podkarpackie Region were discussed:
- creating a sub-panel of greenways routes as part of the smart specialization panel "Quality of Life" of the Regional Innovation Strategy for the Podkarpackie Region for 2014-2020 for smart specialization (RIS3),
- developing a concept for the development of greenways and regional bicycle routes and the Cycling Policy of the Podkarpackie Region,
- development of technical and design documentation for bicycle routes in the Bieszczady Mountains with their connection to the Green Velo trail.
These activities will facilitate the creation of bicycle and greenways routes and routes in the next programming periods and their influence for protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage.
The detailed topics of the meeting also included aspects such as:
- selected projects on cycling in the Interreg Europe 2014-2020 Programme and information on the programme for 2021-2027,
- the course of the current implementation of the OUR WAY project,
- the process of changing strategic documents of the Podkarpackie Region,
- the process of developing documents and projects in the field of tourism,
- greenways routes in Poland and Europe, their potential and importance for protecting and developing natural and cultural heritage and for local and regional development.
