Sani Resort Joins Forces with Research Institute to Protect Unique Pine Forest in Halkidiki
Τhe Sani / Ikos hospitality group has partnered with the Forest Research Institute of ELGO “DIMITRA” to establish the Sani Environmental Observatory in Halkidiki, northern Greece, dedicated to research, education, and eco-activity initiatives for travellers.
Announced on the occasion of International Day of Forests on March 21, Sani/Ikos highlights that protecting the environment and preserving the unique Mediterranean biodiversity are a top priority for the group.
Sani Resort in Kassandra, Halkidiki, stretches in an area of 1,000 acres, at the intersection of three natural worlds: the sea, the wetlands, and the forest of Sani.
The group’s collaboration with ELGO aims to protect and promote the unique coastal pine forest of Sani.
“The observatory is a member of the Greek and international Long-Term Ecosystem Research network (LTER) since 2021, aligning with the new European law for forest monitoring that is currently under development”, says Dr. Mariangela Fotelli, Head of the Forest Ecophysiology Laboratory – FRI/ELGO “DIMITRA” who supervises the observatory’s activities.
According to Dr. Fotelli, ELGO’s main goal is to study the forest’s response to climate change.
“Additionally, we implement initiatives to protect and promote the ecosystem services of the Sani Aleppo pine forest,” she said.
As part of the Sani/Ikos Group – Forest Research Institute partnership, one of Greece’s few forest Eddy towers measuring CO2 and water vapor fluxes operates in Sani. The tower calculates and records carbon storage in the soil and forest biomass, with the aim to determine the carbon footprint and the contribution of the Sani pine forest to climate change mitigation.
Significant action is also taken to enhance forest regeneration through pinecone collection, seed testing, and seedling production in the laboratory. Over the next two years, the planting of more than 6,000 pine seedlings is planned, mainly in the coastal part of the forest that was affected by the extreme weather events of 2019. Additionally, local forest vegetation is being studied, while a network of nests has been placed throughout Sani Forest for the recording of local fauna (small mammals, birds, insects), through which more than 30 insect species and 30 plant species have been recorded to date.
To protect the forest, Sani Resort has a dedicated fire protection team and firefighting vehicles, while daily maintenance and cleaning works are carried out across many kilometers of forest and hiking trails. All organic waste (e.g., branches, leaves) from forest care is collected for composting at Sani Resort’s special facilities, where all garden organic waste is also composted.
Initiatives to promote sustainable tourism
The study and protection of the Sani Forest are part of the group’s sustainability program, for which it has received significant international awards and certifications.
According to Sani/Ikos Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Eleni Andreadis, through its collaboration with ELGO, the group has also designed a series of daily forest walks led by its eco-guide and environmental educational programs for its visitors – adults and children.
The walks focus on the local biodiversity, from insects to birds and small mammals, highlighting the need for forest protection.
“In the kids’ club, for example, children can meet with an entomologist and assist him in his field work or learn to recognize specific plants in the forest,” Andreadis said.
“Our guests’ participation and concern for environmental issues are higher every year, as travellers increasingly seek alternative and more sustainable travel experiences close to nature.”
In 2022 visitor participation in Sani Forest walks tripled, while overall guest participation in Sani/Ikos Group eco-activities (e.g., birdwatching trails, dolphin monitoring expeditions, etc.) more than doubled. For the preservation of the Sani Forest, the group invites visitors to voluntarily contribute one euro at check-out, which it then doubles, funding regeneration and biodiversity monitoring programs.
As part of its strategy to protect Mediterranean biodiversity and address the impacts of climate change, the Sani/Ikos Group is also supporting the reconstruction program for Rovies Beach in Northern Evia following the 2021 wildfires.
An initiative of the “DIAZOMA” non-profit organisation, the project aims to restore the natural beauty and highlight the coastal front of the area by creating pedestrian walkways, green spaces, sports, and recreational facilities, attracting visitors and, primarily, improving the daily lives of the residents.
Sani/Ikos funded the study for the redevelopment project of the coastal settlement of Rovies.