Eastern Zagori was at the center of the participatory workshop held on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at the premises of the Miliotades Secondary School in Zagori, bringing together local residents, stakeholders, and representatives of local authorities. The event was organized by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA), with the support of the Municipality of Zagori and the valuable collaboration of the Social Cooperative Enterprise “The High Mountains”, and was funded by the Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, within the framework of the project “Zagori as a gateway for open and reflective interpretative action – ZAGORIA”.
The workshop was attended by residents and professionals from the area, presidents of the Local Communities and Cultural Associations of Eastern Zagori, representatives of the Ministry of Culture and organisations with an active interest in the area. The event was also attended by representatives of the municipal authority, including the Deputy Mayors of Culture, Eastern Zagori and Technical Works, the President and members of the Municipal Council, as well as representatives of the Development Organisation EPIRUS S.A. along with individuals involved in preparing Zagori’s nomination dossier for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The workshop kicked off in an original and experiential manner. Three objects -a ‘sigouni’ (sleeveless woolen outer garment worn as part of women’s traditional costume), a shepherd’s crook and a mushroom- served as triggers for memory and storytelling. Through these objects, participants introduced themselves and shared thoughts and lived experiences. The shepherd’s crook prompted references highlighting both its practical function and symbolism, such as “a support of friendship and love”, “one crook – seven uses”, and the memory of “anonymous craftsmen”. The sigouni was associated with tradition and the enduring value of the object over time, reflected in phrases such as “priceless heirloom”, “nobility” and “a craft that no longer exists”. Finally, the mushroom served as a starting point for personal and collective reflections on nature and place, with thoughts such as “searching for it, I learned the place”, “foraging, an inexhaustible source of life”, “an opportunity for development” and “memories of my grandfather, who used to go to the beech forests to collect them”.
Participants were then divided into groups and invited to describe what “Eastern Zagori” means to them. Words and images emerged that link the natural landscape of unparalleled beauty with the hospitality and warmth of its people, as well as with historical memory, the destruction of 1943, the civil war, and the ongoing struggle for survival and repopulation. At the core of the discussion were the need for development that respects the cultural environment, alternative tourism and walking trails, as well as concerns over the installation of hydroelectric power plants and wind farms. Particular emphasis was placed on the assertion that “the term ‘neglected’, which we often hear, is incorrect, Eastern Zagori is not neglected”, but rather a living place, striving to remain so, while at the same time the pressing question was raised “desertification is knocking at the villages’ doors, is it reversible?”
A closer look at the defining features and comparative strengths of Eastern Zagori followed, structured around four thematic areas: gastronomy, local products, forest products, and authenticity.
Within the gastronomy theme, raw ingredients and recipes that characterise the area were recorded, while questions were raised regarding their availability in local restaurants, the extent of handmade preparation and the use of local products. Through the discussion, the shaping of an organised local gastronomic identity emerged as a key objective. Particular reference was made to the need to strengthen local production through cooperatives and processing facilities within the area itself, as well as to the utilisation of traditional infrastructure, such as water channels, which -through collective cleaning actions-could support both the revival of local production and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Regarding forest products, the crucial role of forest management in the life and economy of Eastern Zagori was highlighted. It was noted that the processing of products originating from the forests of Zagori takes place almost entirely outside the area, resulting in no added value remaining locally -characteristically, it was said that “not even a peel remains in Zagori”. At the same time, it was emphasised that forest products, such as mushrooms, honey and aromatic plants, are closely linked to sustainable forest management and the preservation of ecosystem services, which are priorities of the European Union, and can support the local economy through quality goods. Concern was also expressed over the closure of the forest nursery in Flabourari, which in the past provided employment for many women in the area, as well as the lack of local processing facilities for local products.
In the area of authenticity, which generated strong interest, key questions were raised regarding what defines the authenticity of Eastern Zagori and how it can be preserved in the future. In this context, the discussion examined whether the use of clay tiles and sheet metal on the roofs of houses built or repaired in the post-war period can be considered authentic. At the same time, issues were raised about the extensive use of cement in the maintenance of stone-paved paths -which runs counter to traditional construction methods and creates problems with rainwater absorption- as well as the unwarranted asphalting of forest roads. There was broad consensus on the need to update the Zagori Presidential Decree, which no longer meets modern construction needs and is considered outdated.
The workshop concluded with an exercise in which participants carefully examined the logo of the Zagori Cultural Landscape, created following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and shared the first word that came to mind. The words mentioned –optimism, unity, woven fabric, beehive, collectivity, cooperation, network– eloquently captured the spirit of the workshop, with the phrase “precious like a jewel, fragile like a snowflake” summing up people’s relationship with the place.
The event was warmly received in Eastern Zagori. The organisers wish to extend their sincere thanks to the Brotherhood of Tristeno and the Itea Cultural Association for their hospitality and contribution, as well as to all participants, for the generosity of their thoughts and their enthusiasm.
The project “Zagori as a gateway for open and reflective interpretative action – ZAGORIA”, implemented within the “Enhancing UNESCO designated sites as Learning Landscapes” initiative of UNESCO and Interpret Europe, is carried out by MedINA with the financial support of the Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and UNESCO’s Venice Office, and with the support of Interpret Europe.