ESC: Umweltbildung und Naturschutz am Ätna

Associazione Nazionale Giacche Verdi Sicilia ODV Raggruppamento Provinciale di Bronte was founded in 2010 and has been operating for 10 years at the regional level, focusing in particular on the area of the valleys of the rivers Simeto and Alcantara. In this area, in fact, the design of a Biosphere Reserve is underway (UNESCO MaB Program) for which the Green Jackets Bronte are among the creators and major promoters. Since its establishment, the Association has promoted numerous projects aimed at promoting and protecting the environment, using local and international volunteers and a wide network of regional, national and international collaborators, who assist and offer their expertise in the implementation of projects. One of the main objectives of the Ass. Giacche Verdi Bronte is to promote environmental protection throughout Sicily. We host volunteers from all over Europe. We give the opportunity to young people from different cultures to experience volunteering, sharing with them the passion for dealing with environmental and social issues that affect the whole world, instilling in the volunteers the awareness of being a European citizen. Young volunteers are involved in all the activities and projects of the association. There are many projects, educational campaigns and information of which the association has been the promoter in recent years: Since 2011 the association hosts volunteers from all over Europe. - Solidarity without Borders (equestrian rehabilitation through the horse). - Naturalmente Cavalgiocando (environmental education project aimed at elementary school). Non scherzate col fuoco (information campaign on fire prevention). - Festa dell'Albero (event). - La Scuola scende in Piazza (playful-educational activities of Environmental Protection aimed at all schools of all levels). - Al Galoppo in Provincia (promotion of the territory and environmental protection). - Le matricole del Volontariato (recruitment of volunteers in schools of higher secondary education). - Volunteer camps (a week with the Green Jackets). - Urban parks and protected green areas (control and supervision). - Crossing of the Nebrodi ridge on horseback (annual event now in its fifteenth edition). - The Ippovie of the Etna (promotion and valorization of the naturalistic patrimony). - Clean Rivers (project of environmental education on the equilibrium of the ecosystems). - Brignolo - Il Bosco dei Ragazzi per i Ragazzi (climate protection on the volcano Etna by giving life to a forest from a former landfill). - La Cultura del Riciclaggio (recycling workshop with school children). - The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Terre della Biosfera - Le Valli Fluviali dell'Etna" (design and implementation of a potential Biosphere Reserve in the Simeto and Alcantara valleys). - Le Querce di Monte Egitto (safeguarding of the majestic centuries-old oaks that risk extinction). - "To Make a Tree Takes a Seed" (Growing up with an ecological conscience, ). - Woods for the Biosphere (environmental education project on the importance of forests in relation to climate change, co-financed by the European Climate Initiative EUKI and the German MHS Foundation and which saw the participation, in addition to EVS volunteers, of 10 volunteers from Eastern European universities and a group of European scholars involved in the environmental field). - Itineraries in the Lands of the Biosphere (walks and trekking in the most beautiful places in the area, with the collaboration of the Italian Alpine Club section of Bronte) - Fruits for the Biosphere (Project of agricultural and environmental education on the correlation between agriculture, food and climate change and at the same time on the recovery of abandoned areas in schools and transformed into educational gardens, co-financed by the European Climate Initiative EUKI and German Foundation MHS) - Markets for the Biosphere (promotion and implementation of markets for local products at Km-0 and traditional local crafts, in collaboration with the municipalities of Bronte, Maletto, Paternò, Piedimonte Etneo and Mascali) - Eco-didactic path of Bufo Bufo in Santa Domenica Vittoria (planning and realization of a didactic path about climate changes and ecosystem of the Common Toad Bufo Bufo, with informative panels and playful-didactic elements; in collaboration with Municipality of Santa Domenica Vittoria, Nebrodi Park, EUKI, MHS Foundation) - Club of the Little Guides (support, training and establishment of a club of students of primary and secondary schools that guide tourists and visitors to discover the path of Bufo Bufo and the nature of Nebrodi) - Humus for the biosphere ( project of environmental education for the importance of soil and climate changing co-financed by the European Climate Initiative EUKI and German Foundation MHS)