Overview

ADRION Regions are rich with wool-based tourism potential and wool is deeply rooted in their cultural heritage. Challenges are that wool is currently rarely processed and instead it is thrown away and destroyed. Numerous unemployed artists, craftsman and sheep breeders are not aware of the economic potential of wool-related products which could give the ADRION region its authentic identity. Overall objective of WOOL project is to conserve wool as an important natural resource and to protect cultural heritage of traditional hand-made wool products by enhancing the regional cooperation and knowledge transfer and by promoting the common ADRION regional brand. Main outputs of the project are: (1) identification of wool production resources and capabilities, (2) creation of a regional strategy for utilization of wool-based resources, (3) development of wool-based tourism products, (4) establishment of Adrion WOOL network, (5) promotion of regional WOOL brand. By ensuring careful examination of the state related to wool resources on the one hand and craftsmanship on the other hand, basis for further valorization of the offer will be made. New sustainable wool/shepherd-based tourism offer will be developed, valorizing endangered cultural heritage in the ADRION area. Pilot actions, implemented within WOOL, will ensure testing of the concept and direct results for involved stakeholders from four different sides (researchers-practitioners-clients-policy makers) all of which will contribute to the valorization of heritage and will positively affect the economic growth of the region. Inter-regional approach is of vital relevance in the area of (i) collecting the wool, (ii) wool processing analysis (mapping of the value chain members), (iii) creating a novel and contemporary design of traditional hand-made wool products in collaboration with craftsman and artists and (iv) tourism product development and regional branding.