On June 26th, the DIANA project – Developing Inclusive and Accessible Natural Areas – celebrated its final conference, marking an important milestone in its journey to promote accessibility in natural environments. Funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme, DIANA has brought together organizations and experts from Italy, Spain, and North Macedonia to build a shared approach to inclusive outdoor experiences.
Held in Genoa, the closing event showcased the project’s key achievements, including a practical toolkit and a collection of best practices aimed at improving access to nature for people with disabilities. The conference featured insights from project partners, local institutions, and disability advocacy groups, underlining the importance of moving beyond symbolic inclusion to concrete, systemic change.
Speakers emphasized the need for a cultural shift and collaboration across sectors to ensure that outdoor tourism is truly open to all. As Marilù Cavallero, president of Cooperativa Dafne, noted, the project’s legacy lies not only in the tools created but in the vision it sets for the future.
In the afternoon, participants experienced this vision firsthand during an accessible hike in the Beigua Regionale Nature Park, near Sassello – a sensory, inclusive excursion designed and led by newly trained environmental guides, equipped to support visitors with diverse needs.
This is the formal agenda over the two days.