Regional Launching Conference in Ireland
On the 8th of November 2023, GREENHEALTH stakeholders and community members gathered in the Kinlough Community Centre to attend the launch of the project.
The event opened by local Leitrim County Councillor Justin Warnock. Cllr Warnock, who spoke of the importance of the regional involvement in the project and in the community interest in obtaining a special designation for the surrounding landscape of North Leitrim, including Lough Melvin.
Conall McGettigan, Assistant Director of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly welcomed all attendees. He explained the focus of GREENHEALTH project on maintaining sustainable Protected Areas, whilst recognising that the enjoyment of natural spaces hold a particular value for human well-being with significant health benefits. He also outlined the alignment of this initiative to the policy objectives of the region and embedded in the Regional and Spatial Economic Strategy 2020-2032.
The Guest Speaker Michael Hegarty, Geopark Manager in the Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark joined the event. He spoke about the development of the Geopark park and the creation of Joyce Country & Western Lakes GeoEnterprise and how this project fuses the natural environment, people and sustainable development in the areas.