Rural Areas In Greece Research Articles

Migrant and Refugee Impact on Well-Being in Rural Areas: Reframing Rural Development Challenges in Greece.

The paper aims to exemplify and discuss the changing conditions and challenges posed by the newly arriving populations of migrants and refugees in rural Greece, along with local people’s views on the impact of the new arrivals in their rural places. Its main objective is to understand whether migrants and refugees create threats or opportunities for the local population, and whether movers and non-movers have a shared understanding of well-being in their rural areas. The analysis unveils the connections that are emerging between migrants and refugees and the economy, society and culture in rural receiving areas. Thus, the paper aims at showing the complexity of rural migrant flows and how the interactions between migrants, refugees and locals in the light of the well-being of rural areas may inform rural development in Greece. The paper is structured into five main sections following the introduction. The first section contains a discussion of the main concepts used as building blocks for creating a theoretical framing of well-being in rural areas. The second section develops a brief discussion of international and internal migration to rural areas in Greece, as well as providing some contextual information on the impact of the economic crisis and new developments in response to the recession. The third section includes a short presentation of the methodological approach and a description of the case study area. The fourth section is dedicated to an analysis of the narratives of international migrants, refugees, internal migrants, locals and stakeholders. Finally, the concluding section critically discusses the conceptualisations of rurality and well-being between the various population groups and articulates the challenges connected to well-being and mobilities in contemporary rural Greece.

The role of events in local development: An analysis of residents’ perspectives and visitor satisfaction

Tourism is arguably one of the most promising options for economic prosperity in rural areas. Effective strategies aiming at tourism development, however, should be based on a thorough analysis of residents' preferences as well as visitors' expectations and satisfaction. Hence, the aim of this paper is to investigate residents' views on tourism development and the contribution of various productive sectors to local development as well as to examine event visitors’ views and satisfaction level in a rural area in Greece. Results based on quantitative data collected via questionnaires showed that the residents perceived that nature-based types of tourism should be developed and preferred Greek rather than foreign investors to be involved in tourism development. Moreover, the majorities of visitors attending events regarded the study area as a value-for-money destination and experienced positive emotions during their stay. In addition, half of visitors attending a Christmas event expressed their willingness to attend the event again in the future whereas most film festival visitors were significantly less willing to do so. Moreover, the visitors of all events were highly satisfied with the natural environment in the destination. Finally, it may be concluded that events are able to establish areas as value-for-money destinations and to contribute to local development. The results presented in this paper may be particularly useful to local authorities and stakeholders involved in the development of tourism in rural areas both in Greece and elsewhere.

COVID-19 and mental health in urban and rural areas of Greece.

Greece is currently in a relatively favorable position when compared to other countries in terms of cases and deaths caused by COVID-19 During the financial crisis, significant mental health issues arose and alternative types of mental health service provision were introduced New forms of telemedicine services, such as telephone helplines targeting specific forms of psychopathology, were established Nongovernmental organizations initiated projects based on social solidarity Additionally, informal social networks and self-help groups became active in the mental health field, while volunteering in the community increased significantly Another initiative launched in Greece in response to the pandemic has been organized by a university child and adolescent mental health service The initiative operates at two levels and serves both Greece and Europe more broadly At a local level, it targets foreign citizens based in both urban and rural areas of Greece, offering psychiatric support for children and adolescents through telemedicine (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Informal Care Regimes: The Case of Rural Greece

Society’s gradual ageing has significantly affected the need for improvement of the care services for the elderly and the people with disabilities. This study aims to understand mechanisms of informal provision of services, the facilitators, and barriers for such practices on this adaptive mechanism in rural areas in Greece. The baseline of this article is a field study that was conducted in villages of two remote municipalities of Greece. The article comparatively analyses in the place of residence differences as a factor of conformation of a unique care and support regime that is offered to the elderly and disabled people. The article identifies regional patterns and explores implications for resident’s ability to access social welfare and the health market. The article contributes by incorporating the special characteristics of place of residence in the analysis of informal welfare regimes.

Associations of air pollution and greenness with mortality in Greece: An ecological study

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have documented the adverse effects of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on health, while there has been less research on the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), black carbon (BC) and especially ozone (O3). Furthermore, there is limited evidence for the synergistic effects of exposure to pollutants and greenness. We investigated the association of long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness with natural-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in Greece using an ecological study design. MethodsMortality and socioeconomic data were obtained from 1035 municipal units from the 2011 census data. Annual average PM2.5, NO2, BC and O3 concentrations for 2010 were derived from 100 × 100 m surfaces predicted by hybrid LUR models. The normalized difference vegetation index was used to assess greenness. We applied Poisson regression models on standardized mortality rates adjusted for socioeconomic indicators and lung cancer rates, accounting for spatial autocorrelation. The analysis was conducted initially for the whole country and then separately for urban and rural areas. We assessed interactions between pollutants and greenness and applied two-exposure models. ResultsAn interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5, NO2 and BC was associated with increases in natural-cause mortality (Relative Risk (RR) 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.11; RR 1.03 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.04) and RR 1.02 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.03), respectively), while PM2.5 and NO2 were also associated with cause-specific mortality. Greenness was associated with lower natural-cause (RR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.94, 0.96 per IQR) and cause-specific mortality. For all outcomes we estimated a protective association with O3 (natural-cause mortality RR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.82 per IQR). All associations were stronger in urban areas. We estimated negative statistically significant interactions between air pollution and greenness for respiratory morality and positive ones for cardiovascular mortality. Estimates were mostly robust to co-exposure adjustment. ConclusionsOur findings support associations of air pollution and greenness with mortality, both in urban and rural areas of Greece. Further research is needed to elaborate on the synergies in cause-specific mortality. Our results on the interactions between pollutants and greenness may imply differential biological mechanisms for cause-specific mortality and warrant further investigation.

Associations of air pollution and greenness with all-cause mortality in Greece: an ecological study

Background/Aim: Epidemiological studies have documented the health effects of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), while fewer studies have investigated the effects of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), black carbon (BC) and even less to ozone (O3). There is limited evidence for the synergistic effects of exposure to pollutants and proximity to green spaces. We investigated the association of long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness with all-cause mortality in Greece using a geographical ecological study. Methods: Mortality and socioeconomic data were obtained from 1035 municipal units from the 2011 census data. Annual average PM2.5, NO2, BC and O3 concentrations for 2010 were derived from 100x100m surfaces predicted by hybrid LUR models developed within the ELAPSE project. The normalized difference vegetation index was used for greenness. We applied generalized additive models on standardized total mortality rates (SMRs) adjusted for socioeconomic indicators and lung cancer rates and accounting for spatial autocorrelation. The analysis was conducted for the whole country and by urban and rural areas. We assessed interactions between pollutants and green space and two-exposure models. Results: PM2.5, NO2 and BC were significantly associated with mortality: an interquartile range (IQR) increase was associated with a Relative Risk (RR)of 1.09, (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.11), 1.03 (95% CI: 1.03-1.04) and 1.02(95% CI: 1.02-1.03), respectively. The associations were stronger in urban areas. Greenness was associated with lower mortality (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.94 - 0.96 per IQR). An inverse association with O3 was found. We did not find any statistically significant interaction between pollution and green spaces, while estimates were mostly robust to co-exposure adjustment. Conclusions: Our findings support independent associations of air pollution exposure and green spaces with total mortality, both in the urban and rural areas in Greece that are of importance for public health policy and urban development.

Biodiversity crime and economic crisis: Hidden mechanisms of misuse of ecosystem goods in Greece

The paper presents the case of biodiversity misuse in urban and rural areas of Greece during the years of economic recession (2008–2019). The hypothesis addressed is that if fiscal crisis and economic recession lead to biodiversity misuse, then, even strong conservation strategies such as those allegedly implemented in developed countries may not be resilient to macro-economic shocks. Empirical data and official statistics are combined in an interpretive way. Mechanisms that enable criminal misuse of biotic resources in protected areas, forests and coastal areas of the country are defined and quantified through specific examples of illegal hunting, logging and fishing. They are defined as the Active Sampling effect, the Market De-concentration effect and the Underground Market effect of crisis. Such crime enablers are not, most likely, country-level singularities; they can be generalized both through their trans-boundary effects and in view of their interference with international conservation strategy and Law.

“Closing the Gap” in Rural Greece: Foot Ulcer Reconstruction in an Octogenerian. Case Presentation with Literature Review

Foot ulcers of mixed aetiology are frequent in the elderly population. The majority of lower limb ulcerations are related to vascular disease. Diabetic foot ulcers constitute an outstanding paradigm of the coexistence of neurotrophic and vascular pathology. In this article, we present the case of an 89-year-old patient from a rural area of Greece. After total onychectomy for a subungual abscess of the hallux of the left lower limb, an ulcer developed on the tip of the hallux that prevented the nail from further growing. After surgical debridement of the ulcer, partial closure was achieved with a cutaneous advancement flap from the plantar surface of the distal phalanx. Strict adherence to simple but basic surgical principles is essential in dealing with minor surgical problems of daily practice in patients residing in rural areas of the country.

Trust and Other Historical Proxies of Social Capital: Do They Matter in Promoting Social Entrepreneurship in Greek Rural Areas?

The aim of the research is to discuss methodological issues that could be learned from the use of historical terms such as trust and social capital in a rural area. We hope to gain knowledge from discussing these old concepts in a new setting; a mountainous rural area in Greece. The basic hypothesis lies in the fact that social capital can be detected through trustworthy relationships, which, in turn, can nourish social entrepreneurship. The research sought to disclose the dynamics in the area that will then help to form a policy proposal for promoting Social Economy in rural areas.

Determinants and Spatial Patterns of Counterurbanization in Times of Crisis: Evidence from Greece

The main purpose of this paper stems from the need for a systematic study of the multiple components that determine the factors that attract residents of urban centers to rural areas in Greece. Based on Multicriteria Analysis (Explanatory Factor Analysis and Hierarchical Analysis) of the last censuses data (2001–2011), the main types (spatial patterns) of Greek municipalities that have potential prospects for settlement are assessed. At the same time, age profiles of people who tend to enter specific types of municipalities are explored, highlighting both the attractiveness factors of the rural areas and what the internal migrant is looking for at the settlement destination. Distinct spatial patterns of counterurbanization can be identified in Greece based on age, physical amenities, employment structures, offer of services, degree of isolation, and the cost of living in the recipient location. Finally, the results identify that spatial, demographic, social and economic inequalities are decisive in the interpretation of internal migration flows.

Accessibility and Spatial Inequalities in Greece

Accessibility suggests a major issue in rural areas. Remoteness or inaccessibility is known to amplify rural deprivation and suspend sustainable regional development. Many rural areas in Greece suffer from remoteness mainly because of a varying and continuously alternating terrain. A diverse space is shaped by more than 70% mountain areas, hundreds of inhabited islands in an insular area almost the size of the mainland and intense variation in population distribution between the large urban agglomerations and the periphery. In this paper, a geographical remoteness index for Greece is presented that can capture the required scale of analysis and the distinct characteristics of Greek space. The index is localized and evaluated using empirical and theoretical methods and several demographic and network geostatistics. Finally, we examine the relationship of the index and critical socioeconomic variables in order to associate accessibility with spatial inequalities. Spatial regression models are used that uncover the impact of remoteness in certain key development aspects, namely economy, human capital and infrastructures. Potentially, accessibility may be used as an evaluation tool to redirect policies for spatial equity.

New Generation Cooperatives as a Response to the Economic Crisis in Greece

The severe Greek economic crisis has created several financial and social challenges. The rise in unemployment had a consequence that a significant percentage of city-dwellers had to leave their homes mostly in Athens and continue their life in rural areas of Greece. Small agricultural holdings that were inherited and never utilized in the years of economic prosperity are now utilized. New business structures have emerged to tackle unemployment and the loss of income. As a result, the first new generation cooperative (NGC) named Efkarpon was established in Karditsa, Greece, in 2012. It is a vertically integrated cooperative, which uses innovation in production and processing of superfood fruits. Factor analysis and SWOT analysis are used to specify the cooperative potentials and manage members' expectations. The results reveal that the members joined in the Efkarpon mostly because they liked the innovative attributes of the effort and recognized entrepreneurial opportunities in superfoods. The credibility of the pioneers of this innovative venture seem to have played the key role.

The status of Donkeys (Equus asinus) in Greece

The paper presents, for the first time, information about donkeys (Equus asinus) in Greece. Most of the information was obtained from interviews of donkey owners, using a purpose built questionnaire. The population of donkeys in Greece showeda remarkable decrease over the last decades. From 508,000 in 1955, there were only 14,570 in 2008, a decrease of 97%. The existing donkeys were characterised by a large diversity in phenotypes. The lack of any breeding programme for donkeys, the importation of jacks from foreign breeds, the loss of interest and under-appreciation, together with the ignorance of health and welfare needs of such animals were the main reasons that shaped the current status. The health and welfare status of donkeys differed enormously across different areas of Greece, reflecting differences in the cultural, economical and "emotional" importance of individual animals. It was revealed that many problems were associated with diseases originating in malnutrition, parasites and bad husbandry management. Moreover, current and future trends, resulting from social and economical developments in rural areas of Greece, are discussed. Given the trends currently affecting the status of donkeys in Greece we concluded that a conservation policy should be adopted, because the number of donkeys will continue to fall.

Microwave diathermy in physiotherapy units: a survey on spatial and time heterogeneity of the electromagnetic field

Microwave diathermy (MWD) is a therapeutic system that has been in use for some decades now in all physiotherapy settings, following the regulations of national facility establishments. The validity of diathermy devices is probably reduced as their working time increases, introducing the need for the device to be controlled/reset by qualified personnel in order to maintain its effectiveness in sessions and to accurately deliver the energy output that the physiotherapist asks for. However, while MWD has been a vital tool for practising physiotherapists, there is no clear evidence of a health burden due to incorrect usability. Additionally, due to the fact that physiotherapy rooms contain physiotherapeutic equipment it is observed that during the use of the diathermy device there is spatial heterogeneity in the interior space. In this work, the results are presented of the first national survey for quality control of MWD systems installed in physiotherapy rooms existing in urban and rural areas in Greece. Serious concerns about the technical status of the equipment as well as staff and patient safety, regarding the levels of non-ionising radiation emitted from MWD devices, are discussed. Additional evaluation is included of measurements in empty physiotherapy rooms while the MWD unit is transmitting at three different input powers (50 W/100 W/150 W—these are the therapeutic protocols used most frequently by physiotherapists) and in fully equipped physiotherapy rooms. Field strengths measured around MWDs normally working at different angles, distances and times compared to international limits revealed great spatial and time heterogeneity, raising serious concerns about the safety of occupational workers or other patients.

Rural entrepreneurship in mountainous regions within the severe crisis in Greece

Aim: The paper purports to explore the actual entrepreneurial processes in rural and more precisely, in mountainous areas taking into account the specificities of the place. Research focuses on two core aspects of rural entrepreneurship according to existing literature and namely the distinctive characteristics of the businesses ecosystem structure of the mountainous Pyli area, Region of Thessaly, Greece and of its population.Methodology: The field research included one-third of the existing enterprises of the area providing an adequate sample for its purposes. The data of the study were captured using structured questionnaires.Findings: The findings confirm existing literature and contribute to efforts for the development of policies to regenerate rural areas in Greece, which are still in a long-lasting severe socio-economic crisis.Implications/Novelty: The paper aimed to inspire more generic policy innovation for the bottom-up development of local approaches to strengthen rural entrepreneurship in mountainous areas, especially in times of crisis.

Assessment of the state of agroecosystem sustainability using landscape indicators: a comparative study of three rural areas in Greece

ABSTRACTThe research was based on a comparative study of three representative rural areas (Dovras, Larissa, and Messapia) in Greece. Remote sensing data were collected (maps, aerial photographs) for the landscape analysis and elaborated using GIS linked with economic and social parameters regarding land use. By using a selected core set of landscape indicators, this research aims at providing a useful tool for assessing agroecosystem management at territorial level and hopefully assist decision-making for the promotion of sustainability. The selected tool showed that the study area of Messapia presented the highest level of environmental sustainability, while the area of Dovras showed the best combination of agricultural productivity and landscape management. Results showed that the ecoregions of Dovras, Larissa, and Messapia presented a landscape composed of important ecological function areas in the percentages of 40%, 15%, and 70%, respectively, and of cultivated areas in the percentages of 55%, 71.19%, and 19.75%, respectively.

Monetizing the social benefits of landfill mining: Evidence from a Contingent Valuation survey in a rural area in Greece

Despite the emerging global attention towards promoting waste management policies that reduce environmental impacts and conserve natural resources, landfilling still remains the dominant waste management practice in many parts of the world. Owing to this situation, environmental burdens are bequeathed to and large amounts of potentially valuable materials are lost for future generations. As a means to undo these adverse effects a process known as landfill mining (LFM) could be implemented provided that economic feasibility is ensured. So far, only a few studies have focused on the economic feasibility of LFM from a private point of view and even less studies have attempted to economically justify the need for LMF projects from a social point of view. This paper, aiming to add to the limited literature in the field, presents the results of a survey conducted in a rural district in Greece, by means of the Contingent Valuation method (CVM) in order to estimate society’s willingness to pay for LFM programs. According to the empirical survey, more than 95% of the respondents recognize the need for LFM programs. Nevertheless, only one-fourth of the respondents are willing to pay through increased taxes for LFM, owing mainly to economic depression and unemployment. Those who accept the increased tax are willing to pay about €50 per household per year, on average, which results in a mean willingness to pay (WTP) for the entire population under investigation of around €12 per household per year. The findings of this research work provide useful insights about the ‘dollar-based’ benefits of LFM in the context of social cost-benefit analysis of LFM projects. Yet, it is evident that further research is necessary.

Classification and ranking rural areas in Greece based on technical, economic and social indicators of the agricultural holdings

This paper aims to classify and rank rural areas in Greece using a set of technical, economic and social indicators. For this purpose, we developed appropriate indicators and criteria applied hierarchical cluster analysis and the multicriteria method PROMETHEE II. In order to collect the appropriate data, a household survey carried out in the context of the research project CAP-IRE (assessing the multiple impacts of the Common Agricultural Policy on Rural Economies) which is a European FP7 funded project. A sample of 300 farm households located in the 16 prefectures of Macedonia and Thrace at Northern Greece was used to classify and rank these areas.

Family produced laying hen meat and eggs in Greece – Nutritional indices for the health conscious consumers

Summary Family produced poultry meat and eggs constitute an important part of the total consumption of poultry products in the rural areas of Greece. The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the nutritional value of layer chicken meat and eggs produced under the family production system, in relation to the current dietary guidelines values for healthy fat consumption. End of lay hen carcasses and table eggs were collected from 7 family farms that kept birds in their backyards. Muscle chemical composition was determined only on skinless breast and thigh samples whereas cholesterol content was determined in both muscle and egg samples. The average fat content (g/100Â g sample) was 0.8 and 3.7 in breast and thigh muscle samples, respectively, and it was similar to the values reported in the literature. The cholesterol content (mg/100Â g sample) was 92.5 in breast tissue and 126.5 in thigh muscle, and it was significantly higher to the values reported in the literature. The average egg yolk cholesterol content was 237Â mg, and it was slightly elevated in comparison to the literature reported values. Contribution of hen meat to fat intake is very low in relation to the reference fat intake (70Â g/2000 kcal/day/adult; European Food Safety Authority), whereas, both hen meat and eggs have a significant contribution the recommended cholesterol intake (300Â mg/day). Current evidence is insufficient, and a greater number of samples is needed to provide a comprehensive picture of the nutritional quality of meat and eggs produced under the family production system.

Early Estimation of Drought Impacts on Rainfed Wheat Yield in Mediterranean Climate

Drought events can cause severe damages to agriculture and in particular to rainfed agriculture. The problems can be more evident in semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean. It is of great importance to assess the impacts of drought on the yield at an early stage, in order to be able to take measures on time for mitigating the anticipated losses, supporting the farmers, and enhancing food security. The aim of the paper is to formulate a simple methodology for estimating the impacts of drought on rainfed agriculture, and especially on wheat yield, prior to the harvest. The Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) is used as the main independent variable in linear regression models for the assessment of drought effects on wheat yield. To test the proposed methodology, data from two rural areas of Greece are used and the wheat yield is simulated using the AquaCrop model. Multiple regression models with variables that include RDI and the minimum temperature for winter months are tested and evaluated through a cross-validation process. The performance of the models is assessed by various criteria. Indicatively, the correlation coefficients at each study area reach 0.87 and 0.91 for predictions 1 month before harvest, 0.84 and 0.82 for 2 months and 0.67 and 0.77 for 3 months before harvest. The results show that the RDI, for reference periods that represent the critical development stages of the crop, is highly correlated with the wheat yield. A satisfactory prediction of the drought impacts on wheat yield 2 to 3 months before the harvest can be achieved. The proposed methodology can be useful to the authorities, stakeholders and insurance services for facing drought events and mitigating losses in rainfed agriculture.