Introducing the MARGISTAR Mission

Date:

Share post:

Mountainous areas are often associated with natural beauty and rugged landscapes, but they also present a unique set of challenges for the people who live there. Marginalisation, economic disparity, and unbalanced use and conservation of ecosystem services are just a few of the issues that mountain communities face. MARGISTAR, a collaborative COST Action forum, was established to address these issues and promote innovative solutions towards a greener, digital future – this is the MARGISTAR mission.

What has MARGISTAR been tasked to do?

MARGISTAR focuses on the natural, environmental, social, and economic inter-relationships and interactions in mountainous areas. Through a range of physical and virtual meetings, the forum brings together scientists, policy makers, mountain actors, NGOs, SMEs, public bodies, and private organisations to identify the challenges faced by marginalised mountain communities and co-design innovative pathways towards their green, digital, and healthy futures.

How will MARGISTAR support marginalised mountainous regions?

The forum’s use of methods like nudging citizens and pinching policymakers are expected to have key scientific, societal, and policy impacts by challenging business-as-usual discourses and supporting agricultural, land use, and rural policies. MARGISTAR engages young and ITC researchers to ensure a fresh and dynamic perspective is brought to the table. Additionally, MARGISTAR will establish a society-science-policy metaphor and platform named Fairway in Europe to stimulate the dialogue between scientists, policy makers, mountain actors, NGOs, SMEs, public bodies and private organizations, and the establishment of local Knowledge and Information Systems.

MARGISTAR’s multi-disciplinary approach supports the EU’s efforts for inclusive, competitive, and green economies and societies. The forum’s mission is to excel in knowledge exchange, co-creation, and capacity building for socially just green recovery and climate mitigation and adaptation. Its ultimate vision is to revitalise marginalised mountainous areas across Europe and leave no one behind.

By providing a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, MARGISTAR is working towards a future where mountain communities can thrive sustainably. With its focus on inclusive, bottom-up approaches, the forum helps to ensure that the unique challenges facing mountain communities are given the attention they deserve.

For more impressions, follow MARGISTAR on Instagram

Keep In Touch

Join our newsletter for the latest project news and collaboration opportunities.

About MARGISTAR & How To Join

The MARGISTAR forum reflects collaboratively on natural, environmental, social, and economic inter-relationships and interactions in mountainous areas, and identifies a range of environmental, social, economic, and political challenges. It enables innovation by co-designing pathways for the transformation of marginalised mountainous areas towards their green, digital and healthy futures.

To join MARGISTAR, read the instructions here and get in touch!

Related articles

Overcoming the Challenges of Crete’s Marginalised Mountains

Crete, the largest island of Greece, is facing significant environmental challenges. Once covered in dense forests, the island's mountainous areas are today severely degraded due to overgrazing, fires, and soil erosion. However, with strategic restoration efforts, there is hope for revitalising these marginalised landscapes. Read more about the Asterousia range and the ancient village of Ethia to better understand local initiatives in  Crete's mountains.

Creating the MARGISTAR Vision Workshop

Participating in a Virtual Mobility last June with Dublin City University was a pivotal experience for MARGISTAR’s Irene Christoforidi in designing the MARGISTAR Vision Workshop. This workshop aims to engage stakeholders in marginalised mountainous communities across the EU, enabling them to imagine future possibilities and develop actionable strategies for overcoming marginalisation challenges. Read on to better understand the outputs of this collaboration between Greece and Ireland and the budding initiative for community transformation in marginalised mountain areas.

Empowering Women and Marginalised Groups in Serbia’s Mountains: Harnessing Natural Resources and Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Success

In the rural mountainous areas of Serbia, women face significant challenges due to traditional patriarchal norms. These norms have long marginalised women, limiting their participation in economic activities outside the household and excluding them from decision-making processes both at home and within their communities. Despite legal prohibitions against gender discrimination, women in these regions still face substantial barriers to achieving equality.

Ferlanda’s Short-Term Scientific Mission at ClimLaw: Graz: Examining Climate Change and Its Impact on Urban Development and Legal Regulation

MARGISTAR’s Ferlanda Luna participated in a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at ClimLaw: Graz in Graz, Austria. The mission focused on interdisciplinary research into data practices and examining their multiple dimensions, and provided a platform for discussing legal concepts and regulatory frameworks for managing climate vulnerabilities. This experience involved comparative desk research on urban public policies and risk management across different countries, enriching Ferlanda’s research methodologies and understanding of diverse climate impacts. Continue reading to learn more about the mission and its effects on Ferlanda’s research.