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The main results of the project “Restoration of Pinus nigra forests on Mount Parnonas (GR2520006) through a structured approach” were presented at a scientific meeting, held in Sparta, at the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil by the Management Body of Mt Parnon & Moustos Wetland and the Greek Biotope Wetland Centre (EKBY). The project aims at the demonstration of the application of a structured approach to restore burnt areas of the region that suffered the disastrous consequences of the fires of 2007, but also at the understanding and awareness of all stakeholders and local communities for corresponding actions

The Director General of Forests of the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Islands Mr. Kantartzopoulos addressed a greeting at the meeting followed by, the President of EKBY Mr. Dafis and the project manager Mr. Kakouros. The scientific meeting was completed on Thursday, May 16th 2013 with a visit in the project area at Parnon. Present at the meeting were representatives of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Monemvasia, the Director of Directorate of Reforestations and Watershed Management - Special Secretariat for Forests Mr. Ntinokas, the Director of the Directorate of Forests of Laconia Mrs. Simadi, the Director of the Directorate of Forests of Messinia Mr. Sotiropoulos, the Director of Forest Service of Sparta Mr. Zakkas, the Governor of the Fire Service of Gythio Mr. Grafakos, representatives of the project and officials.

The presentations of the meeting were:

• Early estimates of the measure "Restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actions - reforestation - rehabilitation of burnt areas", especially for Pinus nigra burned areas of the Project. Stamou Ioannis, Forester, Directorate of Reforestations and Watershed Management - Special Secretariat for Forests.
• The project activities of LIFE + PINUS for the restoration of black pine forests of Parnon. The structured approach for the restoration. Kakouros Petros, EKBY.
• Rehabilitation of black pine forests of Parnon. Simadi Panagiota, Director of the Directorate of Forests of Laconia.
• The legal framework for reforestation and its strategy. Ntinokas Dimitris, Director of Directorate of Reforestations and Watershed Management - Special Secretariat for Forests.
• Installation and monitoring results of natural and artificial restoration of black pine forests of Parnon, prospects for research and documentation. Kakouros Petros and Apostolakis Antonis, EKBY.
• Information and awareness activities of project LIFE + PINUS. Pantazi Katerina, Management Body of Mt Parnon and Moustos Wetland.
• Restoration of burned forest mountainous Mediterranean conifers. Kazanis Dimitris, Department of Biology, University of Athens.
• Taygetos Forest - Results and early estimates from the restoration of the forest of Pinus nigra - Abies cephalonica. Sotiropoulos Giorgos, Director of the Directorate of Forests of Messinia.
• Scenarios dissemination of bushfire at Parnon and the burnt areas of forest fire on 23/08/2007. Athanasiou Miltiades, Environmentalist.
• Application methods for MCA to delineate areas of natural and artificial regeneration of Taygetos Forest. Aggelopoulos Panagiotis, Forester, Directorate of Forests of Messinia.

On the second day of the meeting, Thursday, May 16, 2013, about 30 participants visited selected forested areas of the project area in Parnon by bus of Forest Service of Sparta, as well as reforestation monitoring plots (both artificial and natural regeneration) and reservoirs of Forest Service of Sparti. The field visit was completed in the shelter of Forest Service of Sparta.

We thank the Cultural Foundation of Piraeus for the provision of the multi-purpose hall of the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta.

To play a video with photographs of the meeting click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW9gUQSKEW0&feature=youtu.be or here: https://vimeo.com/66552516 For footage of the meeting click here: http://vimeo.com/66890296

***The project LIFE PINUS entitled “Restoration of Pinus nigra forests on Mount Parnonas (GR2520006) through a structured approach” is implemented by the Goulandris Natural History Museum/Greek Biotope - Wetland Centre, the Decentralised Administration of the Peloponnese - Western Greece & Ionian Sea, the Decentralised Administration of Macedonia - Thrace and the Management Body of Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland. The project is co-funded by the General Directorate for the Development and Protection of Forests and Natural Environment - Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the beneficiary and partners.***