
Trails of History and Nature: Developing Ecological & Cultural Materials for an Ecotourism Hiking Network on the Aegean Island of Naxos
The Cycladic Islands of Greece are a premier international destination that is experiencing the unfettered impacts of mass tourism, and yet are an ideal site for sustainable ecotourism. Specifically, the island of Naxos is located within a major global biodiversity hotspot. It offers a beautiful, topographically diverse landscape, numerous endemic species, and various cultural resources as well as opportunities for hiking ecotourism along an ancient trail network. However, hiking ecotourism and its potential benefits still need to be developed on Naxos as little information is widely available to entice, inform, and guide visitors. Thus, to meet this goal, this project created robust and effective educational materials that not only allow for improved trail navigation, but also feature ecological, cultural, and tourism resources along each trail - from characteristic flora and fauna to Byzantine churches, to restaurants and lodging. These materials will be utilized to increase trail use, which directly supports the local economy and allows for more sustainable land use as compared to the destructive coastal tourism or livestock overgrazing that are common on the island today. The eight trail maps, descriptions, and supporting materials we produced will be integrated into an existing mobile device application and will contribute to the production of a guidebook that visitors can purchase for self-guided hikes on Naxos. This project provides a model for ecotourism efforts in the Mediterranean and worldwide, where sustainable hiking activities can protect the rich cultural and ecological diversity that they feature, while benefiting both local communities and visiting hikers.
Sagarika Kaushik, MS (BEC & SusSys), Daly Kleaveland, MS/MPP (EPP), Rachel Mallet, MS (ESM), Jasmyn Noel, MS (SusDev & GDS), Madison Parrish, MS/MBA (BEC), Jessica Villarreal, MS (ESM)