Projects

The partners of the projects on this website work together to learn from each other and share information. These projects on islands of North-west Europe are confronted with many similar challenges. Therefore the ISLA project got approval and funding through INTERREG IIIB.

All the projects have similar characteristics. They are all on small islands, often geographically remote, sparsely populated, environmentally fragile and economically vulnerable.

Given the right spatial planning impulses the ISLA approach provides opportunities for such islands to have brighter futures that guarantee their economic anchoring in north-west Europe without compromising their environmental and cultural integrity.

The vision of ISLA is seeking a new meaningful role for island and peripheral communities. The five ISLA partners represent a wide spectrum of agencies and countries. They will ensure the broadest input of perspectives, experiences and knowledge of island matters. The partners all face many challenges and seek to address these collectively. Each partner can benefit considerably from, and contribute to, the identification and development of best practice solutions. The investments made by the partners act as demonstrations from which the other island communities can benefit.

The demonstration sites are:

  • Bere Island (Ireland) - Renovation of the Old Schoolhouse, Ballinakilla
  • Shetlands (Scotland) - Improving access, site-specific interpretation and visitor management on various islands of Shetland
  • Argyll archipelago (Scotland) - Different projects at three islands Islay, Gigha and Lismore
  • Iroise Archipelago in Brittany (France) - Restoration of natural landscape on Kéménez and safeguard natural and cultural marine heritage on Ushant
  • Tiengemeten (Netherlands) - Sustainable development, access and restoration of the cultural and natural landscape of the Tiengemeten Island

The spatial planning issues that many islands and peripheral communities currently face correspond to three interrelated common themes that are the focus of transnational studies within ISLA:

Transnational studies undertaken are;

  • Facilitating and bridging Role of Government
  • Island Tourism
  • Cultural and Natural Landscape

To learn and read more about the studies and demonstration sites, please go to Transnational Studies or Demonstration Sites