The two events of the LIFE AMYBEAR project were successfully completed. These events were about the requirements a business should comply, depending on its type of activity, in order to receive the “Brown Bear Quality Label” for their products and services.

All measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 were taken into consideration.

The events took place in Florina and in Amyntaio, at the beginning of September, where representative from the primary sector (beekeeping, livestock, agriculture) and from other sectors (tourism, catering, wineries, etc.) attended. What is worth mentioning is that both speakers and attendees followed every protection measure against the transmission of COVID-19 as instructed by: wearing masks, keeping their distances, using antiseptic on their hands when entering the halls.

The “Brown Bear Quality Label” was developed by LEVER SA – Development Consultants Company, which is a member of the “Samaras & Associates” Group. Its awarding will lead to the recognition of the brown bear not only as a species with environmental value, but will also create economic benefits, thus contributing to the main project’s goal, which is to improve the conditions of human-bear coexistence. In this way, value will be added to the products and/or services of companies that apply bear-friendly practices, as they will become more competitive for groups of consumers / customers who respect the environment.

The Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Florina, which undertook the role of being the Management and Awarding Body of the Label, and as a co-organiser of the events, was the reason of the large attendance in both events. The Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Florina accepted the proposal of the partnership to be the Management and Awarding Body of the Label in the two municipalities, by considering the added value to the businesses of the area, as it will also contribute to the outward-looking entrepreneurship, and shall set the prospects of increased recognition and development of the entire area of the Regional Unit of Florina, especially given the post-lignite period of the wider area. In the next period, the process of awarding the Label will commerce in a pilot stage, to the companies that participated in the events, but also any other company that is interested in participating.

 

During the events, an extensive presentation was made by LEVER SA on the Brown Bear Standard requirements, that a company should comply with in order to be awarded with one of the three categories of the “Brown Bear Quality Label” (gold, silver or bronze), depending on the degree of compliance of the company with the requirements of the Standard. The representatives of the Environmental Organisation “Callisto” referred to the use of measures to prevent damage from bears (Livestock Guarding dogs, special litter bins, which the bear cannot open). In the event in Amyntaio, a more detailed discussion was held regarding the installation and use of the electric fences, as the municipality of Amyntaio within the project, will distribute 47 electric fences to primary sector’s professionals. Lastly, the President of the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Florina, Mr Savvas Sapalidis pointed out: “The Chamber of Florina believes that actions that add value to products and services like LIFE AMYBEAR Brown Bear Label, are comparative advantage for businesses in the area, which already coexist harmoniously with the Bear in its habitat in the Regional Unit of Florina. In addition, the promotion of businesses through the Brown Laberl will help the economic development of the region at both national and European level.”

Instructions guide for applying and receiving the “Brown Bear Quality Label” is available in the LIFE AMYBEAR official website in the “Deliverable” Section and is entitled “A.4 “Brown Bear Quality Label”: Products and services friendly to Brown Bear.”: http://lifeamybear.eu/el/paradotea

The LIFE AMYBEAR project started its implementation since October 2016 and will be completed in November 2021. LEVER-Development Consultants, the Municipality of Amyntaio and the Directorate of Forests of the Decentralised Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia and the Environmental Organisation “Callisto” are formulating the partnership of the project.