CEEweb for Biodiversity would like to pay special attention to the upcoming challenges LEADER local action groups are faced with, e.g. development planning and project implementation under the LEADER approach. We also would like to promote the opportunities provided by direct marketing in local development. Therefore, CEEweb organized its

International Forum on LEADER and DIRECT MARKETING
on 20-21 November 2008 in Tata, Hungary

Programme of the Forum

On the first day of the forum, speakers provided examples of Leader community building initiatives from Austria and England, together with funding opportunities for Leader Action Groups in Hungary. Also, questions on sustainability in rural development were presented and discussed during the afternoon session.

Presentations of the first day:

Thomas Müller, LAG Sauwald, Austria
Designing and Implementation of Local Development Strategy at LAG Level (PDF - 812 KB)
Leader Approach in Austria on the Example "Leader Sauwald" (PDF - 3,89 MB)

John Powell, Countryside and Community Research Institute, UK
The Role of Leader in the New Rural Development Plan for England (PDF - 678 KB)

Péter Szegvári, Regional Development Holding Ltd., Hungary
Funding Possibilities for Local Action Groups in Hungary (PDF - 901 KB)

Iván Gyulai, Ecological Institute for Sustainable Development, Hungary
Principles of Sustainable Development for Local Initiatives (PDF - 2,91 MB)

On the second day, several models of direct marketing were introduced to the audience. Beside the opportunities and results these activities could provide to local communities, the obvious limits of their implementation and broader spread were also revealed in related discussions.

Presentations of the second day:

Christian Jochum, Chamber of Agriculture, Austria
Local Marketing in Austria (PDF - 968 KB)

Beáta Czeglédi, Central Agriculture Office, Hungary
Food Production and Marketing of Small and Semi-subsistence Farms in Hungary (PDF - 1,96 MB)

Iva Dyková, Apus, Association of Regional Brands, Czech Republic
Branding of Local Products in Protected and Rural Areas (PDF - 1,06 MB)

Alecia Ball, Worman & Ball Consulting, Romania
Local Branding - It Takes a Village to Make a Brand (PDF - 105 KB)

Razvan Popa, ADEPT Foundation, Romania
Biodiversity Conservation and Community Development in Transylvania (PDF - 2,01 MB)

Workshop discussions also took place during the two days to discuss the "good" and "bad" experiences and the different approaches and practices.

Beside the official programme, participants had a bird-watching programme on the Old Lake of Tata, a famous Ramsar Site since 1989.

The media partner of the event was Hungarian Duna TV.

The Forum was realised with the support of the European Commission. The donor is not responsible for the expressed views and the use of the information made available.