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Environmental

Since 1997 we have been involved in environmental education and ecotourism activities in cooperation with local, national and European environmental and scientific bodies, in order to protect and respect the environment, as well as to promote local and regional development.

The whole project was based on well-designed and professionally organised actions integrated in European educational programmes for young people ("YOUTH". LEONARDO DA VINCI, etc.).

More specifically, some of the actions taken by the organisation that have led to environmental development are:

  • Trails: Creation, mapping and promotion of hiking trails
  • Hikes: Volunteers and mountain guides of the association have the possibility to accompany groups and individuals on the trails in the area. Some trails with history can be walked independently with an audio guide
  • Organisation of youth exchanges, seminars and Erasmus+ (ESC) short and long term volunteer projects on environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development
  • Collecting garbage in Kryoneri and the surrounding area, as well as on the beaches of Kiato 

More specifically, some of the actions that led to the development of the environmental focus of the association are:

  • Design, construction and installation of wooden signs in cooperation with the Cultural Association of Nea Kryonerios, which function as supportive signs on the hiking trails.
  • Creation of the first trail brochures (1998)

  • Pilot volunteer project entitled 'Reconstruction and promotion of the traditional Kato Vrisi Kryoneri Trail'. First Short Term Action in Greece, in the framework of the European Voluntary Action Programme (1999-2003)
  • "Voluntary Service for Youth" (EVS): a total of 45 European young people who worked hard during the summers, revived a traditional path and its traditional fountain dating back to around 1850 and abandoned for 40 years.

  • Mapping of paths in the area of Lake Stymphalia (2002)
  • Mapping of paths with GPS (Global Positioning System) (2003)
  • Environmental tours & Mountain Bikes in cooperation with Mountain Alternative Tours
  • The company "Mountain Alternative Tours" undertook the guided tours for schools, clubs, private groups or individuals as well as other institutions in the beautiful region of Stymphalia.

  • We created an Environmental Exhibition for the area of Lake Stymphalia and Mount Kyllini (Ziria), which was housed in the old primary school of the village of Kyllini (1,000 m altitude) and which was granted by the Municipality of Stymphalia in May 2004 for this purpose.

  • Organization of clean-ups and promotion of paths and areas of special natural beauty (Lake Stymphalia, Elisson Valley) in cooperation with the Municipalities of Stymphalia and Sikyonia and the Forestry Department of Corinth.

  • Co-organization of the "Bird Day" since 2001, at the beginning of October, in the framework of the "World Birdwatching Day" in Lake Stymphalia, in cooperation with the Hellenic Ornithological Society, the Municipality and the Municipal Youth Council of Stymphalia, the Forestry Department of Corinth and other local bodies.
  • Monitoring of wild fauna (birds, butterflies, etc.) mainly in the zone of Lake Stymphalia (populations, habits/behaviour, disturbances from human interventions, collection and promotion of data to competent scientific bodies for better environmental management and protection of fauna and flora).

  • Organisation of a "Spring Cleaning" in Lake Stymphalia, in cooperation with the Municipality and the Municipal Youth Council of Stymphalia and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (campaign "NATURE WITHOUT SPOOPS") (2000 - 2001 - 2004).