Plant Your Roots in Greece

The response of Greek Americans to the appeal by “Plant Your Roots in Greece” Foundation to support reforestation of areas in Greece devastated by fires has been spectacular, and is continuing. Special interest has been expressed for the Taygetos mountain area that has drawn approximately $150,000 in donations from such sources as the Messinian businessman Panayiotis Alekseas and the Pan Messinian Federation of U.S. and Canada. Federation President Peter Economopoulos handed a check for $18,000 and affirmed that Messinians in the U.S. will continue to support the reforestation of Taygetos.

In order to better coordinate the various activities of the reforestation program, “Plant Your Roots in Greece” partnered with the Greek Association “Friends of Taygetos,” whose founder and president, George Tsoukleris, recently visited the U.S. to discuss Taygetos’ reforestation.  The two organizations have submitted their proposal to the Kalamata Forest District Director, George Soteropoulos, responsible for plantings through the period that ends this month and during the next planting season in November.

“Our interest is substantive,” Mr. Tsoukleris said. “We are ready to ‘adopt’ for reforestation and rehabilitate areas designated by the Forest District. Katounes is one targeted area. I am very thankful to the President of the Greek American Foundation, Mr. Ted Spyropoulos, Mr. Economopoulos and Mr. Aleksea for their work to secure the rebirth of this unique, beautiful and ecologically valuable mountain called Taygetos.”

Experimental planting work has been undertaken by volunteers during March by the two partnering organizations on Taygetos, but outside the Forest District, in order to gain experience and to purchase the necessary equipment.  

“The numbers of volunteers coming forward for this work is incredible,” Mr. Spyropoulos stated. “We are very impressed by the spirit of our compatriots, both in Greece and the U.S., to participate in replanting work. Our Athens office is preparing lists of volunteers who will help us launch the next planting season in a few months.”

In other developments, the foundation and the association “Friends of the Green,” implemented last month the second planting phase in the archeological park Dion, Pieria, according to a plan prepared by D. Zaggas, lecturer in the School of Forest Studies and Environment at Aristotle University; Gregory Nikolaides, professor of agriculture and president of Agriculture Association of Macedonia-Thrace; and Professor D. Pantermalis, archeologist.

Earlier this month, the third and final planting phase for this season was held on the slopes of Penteli mountain, spearheaded by the “Independent Reforestation Movement,  I Don’t Forget – Reforestation Now!” U.S. diplomats and members of the American community in Athens, the Municipality of New Penteli and foreign correspondents participated in the inauguration of the project.  Among the participants was leading Cypriot businessman Stelios Hadjiioannou, president of easyGroup, London, jmother company of easyJet, easyCruise and easyHotels.

“Plant Your Roots in Greece” has scheduled plantings near the city of Serres following a request by Mayor Ioannis Vlahos for the creation of a small forest in Ano Kemenikion region, on Naoussa Hill. Plantings are also scheduled at Mandra, Attica; Diakofto of Aegio, Achaia; and in Ancient Olympia. In November, plantings will take place in cooperation with “Friends of the Green,” and Kassandra Forest District Director Mr. Klonaris, in the Lykouri region, while a study is being prepared for plantings in the archeological area of Vergina. 

“We have contacted the Prefectures of Arkadia, Achaia, Elia, Magnesia, Laconia, Messenia, Chalkidiki, Evia and Attica, and we are expecting their response on reforestation,” Mr. Spyropoulos said. “I am particularly grateful to George Aggelopoulos, in Australia, Coordinator of SAE Oceania and Far East, who has adopted our program to include participation of Hellenes in his region. I also thank all the Omogeneia organizations, companies and private citizens who daily demonstrate their support for our program. I assure them that every single dollar contributed will be spent exclusively for plantings and reforestation in Greece.”

The American Hellenic Council of California contributed $45,775; the Pan-Cretan Association of America $28,000; the U.S. firm Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, $25,000; and the American Hellenic Council, $20,000.  A complete list of contributors will be issued soon.

In the meantime, the successful lecture series organized around the U.S. by “Plant Your Roots in Greece” is continuing under the topic, “Human Ecology in the Context of Climate Change: Focus on the Impact of the 2007 Fires in Greece.” Dr. Anagnostis Aggelaris, of Adelphi University, is the presenter.