Leonardo Baroncelli from Italy has been elected Vice President of NFI at the NFI Congress on October 21, 2017. He is an active member of Naturefriends Italy dealing with international and environmental topics. In our conversation, Leonardo talks about the reasons for his involvement with Naturefriends and his ideas for the future of the organisation.
Naturfriends go hiking in the Landscape of the Year
On the occasion of the "Tour d'Horizon", which was carried out very successfully in January 2018, opportunities were also explored to hike in the Landscape of the Year. Well suited for this is the Kunkilling Forest Park in The Gambia, located on the south bank of the Gambia River, about 5 km upstream from the district capital Janjanbureh.
„Over Tourism“: Our own behaviour is part of the solution.
Vienna, 8 March 2018
„Tourists go home!“ Since last year, we can hear the cries and protests from the local communities against the flood of tourists more and more often. “Over Tourism” is the new buzzword, which also plays a big part in the discussions and panels happening at ITB, the international tourism fair currently happening in Berlin. There are many reasons for the current overload at tourism hotspots – our travel and consumption patterns are part of it.
Mamadou Diallo, Secretary General of Naturefriends Senegal (ASAN), expressed his excitement that ASAN will be right in the centre of the international Naturefriends activities when he gave his speech during the opening of the Landscape of the Year Senegal/The Gambia. In his interview with NFI, he explains how important this initiative is for the region and his association, as well as his visions for the future.
Petra, you are the Programme coordinator for Africa of Naturefriends Germany. Why are the Naturefriends Germany so involved in Africa? What does the partnership between NF Germany and the African Naturefriends Network look like?
Naturefriends Germany have been working with Naturefriends Senegal and Togo for many years now. It all started with the trips to both countries organised by Naturefriends, which gave us a chance to experience our friends’ activities regarding environmental education, biodiversity and climate change first hand. Those topics are also very important for NF Germany. Our projects always have a social aspect so that the local community can benefit as well.
