WWF Greece Announces Plans to Reforest Sounio

Photo © Andrea Bonetti / WWF Greece

WWF Greece announced plans this week for the reforestation of Cape Sounio in efforts to restore the forest landscape of the area which has repeatedly suffered from forest fires.

The project, which comes 10 years after the reforestation of the Parnitha fir forest, will be carried out in an area that can no longer naturally regenerate.

More specifically, restoration will cover the area above the village of Agios Konstantinos which has been burnt twice over the last decade. WWF Greece selected the area after assessing data of relevant forestry studies. The project aims among others to improve the area’s biodiversity as well as strengthen the forest’s resilience to fires, especially in mixed forest-residential zones.

Photo source: WWF Greece

At the same time, the project will focus on identifying different methods of planting in order to improve the sustainability of selected plants as well as provide insight into the maintenance and resources required.

The reforestation project will be carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems of ELGO Dimitra and the Lavrio Forestry Department, with the support of WWF volunteers.

Photo source: WWF Greece

“Although the natural regeneration of forests after fires remains in most cases the most suitable solution, it is equally important when this is no longer possible that artificial reforestation operations are planned and implemented, always according to scientific criteria and with the appropriate methodology,” said Nicos Georgiadis, head of forest management activities, WWF Greece.

“In addition to the scientific purposes of the project, such as increasing biodiversity and the forest’s resistance to fires, we are also pleased for one more reason: in this effort we will have citizen-volunteers by our side who will have the opportunity to be trained by experienced scientists on how to help restore an ecologically important area, learning first-hand the threats our forests are facing, as well as how a reforestation is properly carried out,” added Georgiadis.

The project is made possible with the support of the A. G. Leventis Foundation and WWF Greece supporters.