Year: 2020

On behalf of LIFE Andros Park project we wish you happy holidays and a new year full of hope and good health! We share with you the work of art created by Nana Filippou on the "canvas" found and collected by the team of the project's mycologists (Agricultural University of Athens, Lab. of General and Agricultural Microbiology) together with one of the caretakers of the Botanic Garden (Kaireios Library). The design is engraved on the underside porous surface of a Ganoderma adspersum mushroom, which was found on an alder trunk in Vori. This polypore, as well as G. applanatum, are also known as "the artist's fungus" since the underside porous surface of the mushroom could be permanently engraved! The artwork will be exhibited at the Agadakis Tower. The alder on…

The project participated and was presented in the Online Thematic Info Day entitled "LIFE Funding Program and Forests: Reality, Challenges and Needs in Forest Management in Greece the 21st Century ", co-organized on November 27, 2020 by the Green Fund, the Greek Task Force and the Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre and was attended by 331 participants. The event had two distinct parts. In the first part the national and EU priorities on forest policy, management, conservation and protection of our forest ecosystems were presented, as well as forest management research. At the same time, the issues of forest management and governance, to which the LIFE Program has contributed in Greece since 1992, were reviewed. In the second part recent projects of current and integrated LIFE forest projects, the implementation of which…

In the fifth issue of the annual magazine of Andros EVANDROS the islets of Andros and the seabirds that find on them shelter and use it as a breeding site were presented.   Islets and seabirds The islets of Andros are not barren. To the contrary, they are filled with life! That is where the seabirds find the necessary protection and isolation in order to lay their eggs and to bring up their young.   East of Andros, early autumn The day's activities start, even before dawn. Some have already woken up and have gone hunting. Battles in the air take place a few centimetres above the waves. The unfortunate migrating passerines are facing the enemy just as they are trying to land on the island. They travelled all night…

The project was selected by the EU campaign #EUinmyregion to be promoted through a video case study. #EUinmyregion is a co-created communication campaign that aims to increase the visibility of EU-funded projects across Europe. Using the communication tools and support, managing authorities and project beneficiaries are invited to engage with citizens to show what they achieve together with the EU in the region. https://youtu.be/2OhlF8dYw6s

The interventions in the delta of Vori that are carried out in the framework of the LIFE Andros Park project have initiated a change to its appearance and regenerate the area’s alder forest. During the last 50 years, at Vori, where the river of permanent flow ends, the only alder forest of the South Aegean and the southernmost of the Balkans has formed. The presence of alders in the area was known from the past, as they grew along the river. However, the abandonment of crops in the river’s delta about half a century ago led to the spreading of trees and from the clusters that followed linearly the course of the water, a forest formed. However, the torrential rains of 2012, combined with the successive wildfires on the slopes…

The Field Team of MOm visited the broader area of Andros and the sea caves used by the Mediterranean monk seal at Andros, Tinos and Gyaros islands and cleaned, among others, one of the most polluted sea caves, located at Mantilou islet. The islet of Mandilou is on one of the main pathways of marine litter transport in the Aegean Sea which passes Kafireas Straits transporting marine litter originating mainly from North Aegean. As a result, the sea cave of the islet is particularly exposed to pollution. Researchers who visited the cave collected nets, crabs, tree trunks and plastics, covering entirely its beach, making it unsuitable for seals and especially dangerous for those using it. Marine litter could injure the seals and even trap them. The collected marine litter was…

Kaireios Library initiates the operation of the Botanical Garden that was created as part of the LIFE Andros Park project at Agadaki Estate. At the same time, a photograph exhibition is organized on the species and the habitat the project is trying to protect and promote. Agadaki Estate is located in Apatouria and includes a stone Tower built in the 18th century, a traditional olive mill, as well as an orchard of about eight acres that has two natural springs. It was the residence of the Andrian family Tzortzi or Agadaki. Kaireios Library has recently restored the Tower and the olive mill. The Botanical Garden hosts 150 species of Andros’ native plants planted on the terraces of the Estate and in various locations depending on their requirements. The first terrace…

Research concerning the diversity of macrofungi in Andros started approximately 25 years ago; however, it was the LIFE "Andros Park" project which provided the framework allowing intensification of pertinent studies in forests and stands of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) on the island. In total, 106 mushroom species associated with alders (by either forming specialized symbiotic relationships with the trees, or by growing on wood and litter residues) were recorded. It is noteworthy that 21 of these species constitute new national records, and many other are reported for the first time on this particular host-plant. The initial idea of inventorying the mushrooms of Andros belongs to the founder of the Kaireios Library, the late Dimitrios I. Polemis, who encouraged Elias Polemis to start working on this subject back in 1993. Soon…

On Andros, our love for the island and its environment brings us closer! On Sunday, June 14, 2020, teams from all over Andros cleaned four beaches, Mylos at Korthi, Paraporti at Chora, and Fellos and Ateni at Hydrousa. Volunteers of all ages, residents of Andros - among them elected representatives - and holidaymakers, participated in the cleaning, with the support, coordination and provision of material by the Andros Port Authority, LIFE ANDROS PARK and HELMEPA. The cleaning was organized by Andrion Club, Hydrousa Volunteer Team, Korthi Yacht Club, Katakoilos Cultural Association “Agios Ioannis Theologos”, Andros Yacht Club, LIFE Andros Park project – with the participation of the Municipality of Andros and Kaireios Library -, Port Authority of Andros, Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Andros, Women Association of Korthi Andros, Andros…

Following the successful cleaning of Paraporti beach last year, island’s entities expand their actions to more beaches of the island and invite you to participate in the cleaning of the beaches of Mylos, Fellos, Ateni and Paraporti. The cleaning will take place at the same time on all beaches on Sunday 14 June starting at 11.00. As part of the action, the participants will be informed by the organizers about the plastics that end up in our seas and the ways through which we can contribute in tackling the problem. The beach cleaning will follow and the collected waste will be removed from the beaches by the team of the LIFE Andros Park project. It will be an opportunity to meet again after a long time and to take action…