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In Greece, environmental interpretation is in its infancy as an academic field. In particular, there are no nature guides or specific conservation objectives, and no professional training for non-formal environmental educators and/or interpreters. In view of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, this paper develops and recommends a training model for environmental educator/interpreter guides in protected areas and sensitive ecotourism settings in Greece. An investigation was undertaken into training programmes in developed and less developed ecotourism countries, where environmental interpretation is practiced in the sustainable management of sensitive areas. The proposed model is based mainly on interpretive training programmes of other developed and less developed countries. This model introduces the art of environmental interpretation as a form of non-formal environmental education, integrated in strategic communication in protected areas and sensitive ecotourism areas in Greece. The developed model takes into consideration the special social settings and biophysical environments of Greece. Moreover, a professional environmental interpreter group is recommended to support the role of management authorities in protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the total number of individuals running small ecotourism enterprises in areas of specific interest in Greece, and our objective was to explore the ways of measuring their awareness and characteristics in order to identify the requirements of specific environmental education programmes. A statistical analysis utilizing factor and reliability analysis revealed the environmental profile of the target group. The main factors extracted were; cooperation with environmental organization (governmental or non-governmental); intention for union cooperation; the degree of environmental activism; an assessment of environmental needs; acceptance of financial responsibility; willingness to accept environmental education; environmental education influence; and hierarchy in environmental protection. The development of a specific environmental education programme tit be offered to such people is of extreme importance due to their indirect role as environmental practitioner; often providing information about the local environment to visiting tourists. An appropriate environmental programme tailored to their assessed needs and characteristics is of extreme importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]