At 15 of July our team planned and organised a participatory workshop with key stakeholders relevant to wood-pasture management and use, implemented in Viscri.
The following topics were debated:
- ‘The ideal wood-pasture in 2045’ – The groups were asked to have an imaginary trip in 2045 in a wood-pasture they would like to see. The participants were asked to describe the wood-pasture: how it looks, what is in there in terms of human structures, human use, natural elements and general social-cultural environment, the relationship with people, with the local and global community. Then the participants were asked to link the wood-pasture components defined in the first exercise to form a functioning system and define the broad social, cultural, economic and environmental context influencing the system described above. Finally, the participants were asked to distinguish the most vulnerable and the less vulnerable components of the wood-pasture system you described above
- ‘How to reach the ideal system we envisioned for 2045?’ – This topic addresses the ways the described ideal-realistic wood-pasture can be reached from the present. What changes happened, which of these changes are controllable for locals and which are not.
- ‘Are there current initiatives which can led to the ideal wood-pastures you described?’ – Here the participants were asked to think about ‘seeds’ which, if upscaled could help in achieving positive futures for wood-pastures and people. Also, they were asked to present those ‘seeds’ which can be targeted by future projects.
The workshop lasted for a full day and the particopants had the opportunity to stay overnight if needed.
The individual discussions started at March 2023. In order to bring together the participants of this workshop (23 persons), cca 60 persons were approached since March. The final group of people was established cca 3 weeks before the workshop, by asking them to make a firm decision if they wish to attend. These persons were then added to a Whatsapp Group created especially for communicating about the workshop. The group communicated well, shared impressions and pictures during and after the workshop.