Happy goats on Samothraki

Aegean island Samothraki is home to ancient legends, mystical stories and archaeological treasures, set on a breathtaking backdrop of natural pools, cascading waterfalls, and the mighty Mount Saos, where Poseidon perched to watch the drama unfold in Troy.

In fact, it is so naturally and culturally significant that the island is in the process of achieving UNESCO status as a Biosphere Reserve. This will pave a bright future for Samothraki where social and environmental sustainability are paramount.

A quiet natural haven with family-run boltholes and campsites attracting loyal, nature loving visitors, Samothraks have been busy protecting their peaceful pocket in the Aegean Sea, championing sustainability on the fairy-tale land they call home.

You can have too much of a good thing, and on Samothraki that good thing is goats. Wild goats are roaming across the island and over-grazing the land. Here enters Happy Goat, an app which helps farmers understand the impact of their actions on the landscape and their incomes.

Meanwhile, composting has dramatically reduced the waste taken off the island and sown biodiverse pastures are being put in place to stop soil erosion.

The savvy island plans to develop its tourism sustainably by creating eco-cultural trails in its mountains, promoting social cooperatives, and making the most of the landscape with nature and cultural-based activities from hiking, cycling and diving to thermalism, cooking and photography. Sign us up!

Visit Website: http://sustainable-samothraki.net/research/socioecological-research/