Genoa, June 2025 – After more than a year of collaboration, the project DIANA – Developing Inclusive and Accessible Natural Areas, funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, is coming to a close. To mark the conclusion, two events will take place in Liguria, Italy, to share the project’s outcomes, tools, and future perspectives on accessibility in natural environments.
DIANA was born from the desire to promote a concrete and participatory approach to inclusion in natural spaces, by connecting existing good practices from Italy, Spain, and Bulgaria. Thanks to the joint work of its partners – Dafne (Italy), KOAN (Spain), and Balkania (Bulgaria) – the project developed a practical and methodological toolkit for local authorities and professionals. The toolkit provides operational guidelines, accessibility criteria, and references to support the design of inclusive nature experiences.
In addition to the toolkit, DIANA launched a specialized training course for environmental hiking guides, focused on supporting people with motor, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. This course created a new group of professionals who combine technical expertise, relational awareness, and a strong commitment to accessibility.
To share these results with the community and open a space for dialogue, two final events are scheduled:
📍 Thursday, June 26 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Final Conference in Genoa – Held at Bi.Bi.Service (Via XX Settembre 41, 4th floor), the event will present the project’s key achievements, the development of the toolkit, and future perspectives. It will feature contributions from project partners, institutions, trained guides, and local stakeholders.
If you want to participate, this is the link for the registration: https://forms.gle/Fs4Uv7ykHr4rU2DD6
📍 Friday, June 27 | All Day
Accessible Hike in the Deiva Forest (Sassello, SV) – A sensory and inclusive hiking experience, designed for people of all abilities. The hike will be led by the trained GAE guides and supported with accessibility aids such as the Joelette, making nature accessible to all.
DIANA has shown that nature can – and should – be a space for everyone. Achieving this requires method, training, collaboration, and a shared political vision.