Organization and evaluation of a sustainable Islands network

Abstract

The DAPHNE network (δAφNH, in Greek) has been developed for the Aegean islands with the objective to promote the sustainable development of a region that is ecologically sensitive and culturally rich. The basic tool employed is an evaluation-certification system that results in the yearly award of a sustainability badge for each qualified island. The evaluation process includes a series of activities, such as examining the condition in each island and detecting environmental pressures, defining widely acceptable sustainability priorities, and scheduling and assessing relevant actions. There are two basic axes in the evaluation methodology: island condition and program actions. Ten thematic sectors of sustainable development that are considered as including the maximum number of island condition and action cases have been selected. Sustainability assessment is done by assigning scores to a series of factors and by calculating a total score. Islands with yearly scores greater than or equal to a pre-defined minimum receive (or retain) the sustainability badge for that year. © 2011 WIT Press.