Completed Projects
Background Note on the Foundation and its Activities
The Laona Foundation is a private non-profit-making organisation established in the early 1990’s to implement the Laona Project in western Paphos, a US$1m. rural regeneration and ecotourism project, completed in 1994. The project involved five villages on the border of the proposed Akamas reserve area and helped introduce the concept of agrotourism to Cyprus. A total of 26 traditional buildings were restored, points of visitor attraction were developed in each village, and many publications were produced. While the Foundation continued offering guidance to the people of Laona, it has broadened its scope to cover all areas of Cyprus and even overseas (e.g., Greece, Nepal, Jordan, Lebanon). Since 2003 the Foundation is increasingly interested in landscape and climate change issues, having observer status at the European Landscape Convention (ELC), Council of Europe. Since 2003 our work has addressed a wide range of agricultural challenges, including environmental protection, climate resilient agriculture, landscape protection, heritage conservation and fire protection.
Some projects/activities carried out:
- Implementation of the Laona Project (Phases I-IV) 1989-94, funded by MEDSPA-LIFE Programmes and other donors.
- Organisation and implementation of a one-week study visit for an NGO group from Nepal, to study the effects of mass tourism and understand agrotourism, funded by the Sheepdrove Trust, U.K, 1998.
- Study visit to Xanthe, in Northern Greece to study the potential for encouraging restoration of the old part of town, funded by the Leventis Foundation, 1998.
- The River Valleys (Kiládes) Project, a sustainable management plan for the Riverine Communities of Eastern Paphos, funded by LIFE ’99 and other donors. This project aimed to assist the regeneration of seven communities by enhancing their natural and cultural heritage, 1999-2002.
- Bipartite cooperation between eastern Paphos and Sitia in Crete, for sustainable development and eco-tourism, funded by the Greek Ministry of Planning and Environment, 2001-2002.
- Role of the LEADER programme and Local Action Groups in Rural Development, conference co-organised with the EU Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus, and the European Landowners’ Organisation (ELO), 2005.
- Promoting Phytiotiko weaving in cooperation with Phyti community. A series of activities starting in 2011 involving filming of the weaving process, discussions with the community, a seminar in cooperation with Frederick University in 2013; securing the inclusion of phytiotiko weaving on our National List of Intangible Heritage in 2016 in line with UNESCO procedure; celebrating phytiotiko as part of 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage and producing a book in 2021 funded by the Culture Services and Dashin Foundation.
- Research, highlighting, promotion of the Phytiotiko waver, Cultural Services, 2018-19
- Research and Webinar for Judges and Advocates on access to environmental justice by NGOs. Funding by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung 2020-21.
- Seminar on Dealing with desertification through sustainable agriculture practices. Funding: National Agriculture Network 2021.
- Re-Greening, a one-year project to restore dry stone walls in a burned field of 70.000sq.m. and training sessions in dry stone walling. Funded by the Cyprus Environment Foundation, 2022
- Re-Planting with Exness for landscaping and planting saplings and shrubs in the field where the dry stonework preceded. Funded by Exness, 2022
- Beyond CULtural TOURism: Partner in a project led by Italy involving ten countries on cultural human-centred, circular tourism, organisation of the first ever Renaissance Fair in Cyprus (Oct 2023). Funding Horizon 2022-24.
Landscape actions:
- Improving Decision-Making Concerning Land-use in Rural Areas, by organising a structured ‘Social Learning’ experience to train facilitators in land-use decision-making. Funded by USAID and UNDP, 2004
- Workshop on the European Landscape Convention co-organised with the Cyprus Department of Town Planning and Housing to introduce the Convention to technocrats involved in its implementation, 2005.
- Production of the first Landscape map of Cyprus, in cooperation with the University of Reading, and presentation to departments of the Ministry of Interior, 2008.
- Round-Table discussion on Landscape identification for technocrats led by Professor Carys Swanwick of Sheffield University, 2006.
- Workshop on Landscape Character Assessment led by specialists from Reading University, 2007.
- Developing the basis for a Cultural Landscape map of Cyprus, 2011.
- Coordination of Medscapes Project (Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon) to develop a common methodology for mapping landscape in the Eastern Mediterranean. Funding: European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI)
- Sponsoring Cypriot participation in the 2016 and 2018 World Conference of ITLA (International Alliance of Terraced Landscapes) which led to proposals for a Think Tank on the potential utilisation of abandoned terraces (2015).
- Landscape character mapping of the Akamas Peninsula (scale 1:10.000). Funding: Leventis Foundation and Department of Town Planning, 2017.
- Organisation of European Round Table Meeting on ‘Landscape as a factor in developing sustainable tourism’ and active involvement in producing the Larnaca Manifesto (2024) Towards Circular and Human-Centred Cultural Tourism within the Be.Cultour project (2022-24).
Bi-communal projects:
- Bi-Communal presentation in EU Environmental Meeting, Murcia, Spain, 1998.
- Leadership and participation of a bi-communal Cypriot mission at an IUCN Mediterranean conference on protected areas. Funding: EU Civil Society Programme, 2003.
- Research and organization of training in both communities for the best evaluation of options related to land uses in the countryside. Funding: UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services), 2004.
- Experimental introduction of training on Quantitative Decision Modelling for rural land uses. A bi-communal project involving Greek and Turkish Cypriots, funded by UNOPS, 2004.
- Sustainable Rehabilitation of abandoned Mines and Quarries, bi-communal project funded by UN, 2008-09, involving a Think Tank with experts from both communities.
- Research on the environmental conditions at Lefke, bi-communal project funded by Stelios Foundation, 2018.
- Annual Eco-journalism workshops held in 2017, 2018, 2021 for young journalists under the auspices of the Dutch Embassy in Cyprus. Sponsor: Leventis Foundation.
- Putting Cyprus in the Classroom. Program for GC and TC primary teachers to get to know the natural/cultural heritage of our country. Sponsor: Orange Tulips, 2020-22.
- PyrAnakampsi-Alevlerden Geleceğe, empowering civil society in 11 communities affected by wildfires. Funding: Active Citizens Fund (EEA), 2022-24.
Recently completed Projects (since 2020)
- Research and Webinar for Judges and Advocates on access to environmental justice by NGOs. Funding by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung 2020-21.
- Seminar on Dealing with desertification through sustainable agriculture practices. Funding: National Agriculture Network 2021.
- Re-Greening, a one-year project to restore dry stone walls in a burned field of 70.000sq.m. and training sessions in dry stone walling. Funded by the Cyprus Environment Foundation, 2022
- Re-Planting with Exness for landscaping and planting saplings and shrubs in the field where the dry stonework preceded. Funded by Exness, 2022
- Beyond CULtural TOURism: Partner in a project led by Italy involving ten countries on cultural human-centred, circular tourism, organisation of the first ever Renaissance Fair in Cyprus (Oct 2023). Funding Horizon 2022-24.
- Organisation of European Round Table Meeting on ‘Landscape as a factor in developing sustainable tourism’ and active involvement in producing the Larnaca Manifesto (2024) Towards Circular and Human-Centred Cultural Tourism within the Be.Cultour project (2022-24).
- Putting Cyprus in the Classroom. Program for GC and TC primary teachers to get to know the natural/cultural heritage of our country. Sponsor: Orange Tulips, 2020-22.
- PyrAnakampsi-Alevlerden Geleceğe, empowering civil society in 11 communities affected by wildfires. Funding: Active Citizens Fund (EEA), 2022-24.