User:Philodassiki
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Philodassiki Enosi Athinon was founded in 1899 in Athens. Its object was the reforestation of fallow land, the encouragement of forest-lovers and the protection of the natural environment. It was founded by the late Fokionas Negris, then Minister of Finance, by Andreas Kordellas, Engineer, and by Constantinos Samios, Forester. Philodassiki, when it was first established, undertook the initiative of the reforestation of the hills in and around Athens. To this effect, in Pangrati, near the streets of Merkouri and Eftychidou, a nursery was created with wells, tanks and a steam generated pump. As Philodassiki grew, so did the nursery which became the present day Pangrati Grove (Alsos) 30,000 sq.m. in size, and which, in 1936 was conceded by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Municipality of Athens. Therefore with the initiative of Philodassiki, the hills of Lycabettus, Philopappou, Ardittos, the Nymphs and Pnyka were reforested at the same time with the slopes of the Akropolis.
In addition trees were planted on the Kifissos River banks - on both sides of Tatoiou Street, as well as on the banks of the river of Podonifti. The activities of Philodassiki were checked during the Balkan wars and World Wars One and Two. During World War Two the vegetation of Attiki and mainly that of Mount Hymettus suffered a severe blow. All trees were cut down and Hymettus was transformed into a wasteland. It was now open - as we have had the misfortune to find out - to trespassing and city growth. In 1945, the late President of Philodassiki, Kaity Argyropoulou, undertook the initiative for the reforestation of the area around the Byzantine Monastery of Kessariani. This resulted in the planting of more than three million trees within an area of approximately 6,000,000 sq.m. Old quarries were covered and trees were planted, forest roads were opened, rest and recreation areas were created, and the goat-sheep herds were made to leave the area. In 1952-55 the monastery complex of the Holy Monastery of Kessariani (11th Century) was restored by Philodassiki which also funded the project, in co-operation with the Archaeological Service (Professors Orlandos and I. Travlos). The restoration of the post-Byzantine murals was undertaken by Tasos Margaritof. Further the Monastery of Aghios Ioannis Kynigos was restored.
The "Historical Olive Grove" which for centuries had surrounded the Byzantine monastery and which has been depicted on prints by travellers of the past centuries, was once more planted with trees and because of the new landscaping of the surrounding area, became once more a peaceful refuge of natural beauty for Athenians as well as a source of oxygen. Through Presidential Decree 91/1974, the forest of Kessariani, 6,400,000 sq.m. in size was pronounced "Aesthetic Forest" due to its distinctive aesthetic and ecological importance.
A small "Botanic Garden" was also created, with an assorted and abundant collection of Greek wild herbs, plants, bushes and trees.
In 1956 in co-operation with the Archaeological Society and with Archaeologist I. Travlos, the work began on the excavation and partial restoration of the OLYMPIEIO, which had been left to deteriorate. In addition to the important findings and data which came to light from the excavations of Philodassiki, upon completion of the work, the area surrounding the OLYMPIEIO, was landscaped aesthetically, with the planting of trees, bushes etc.
One of the most important activities of PH.E.A. , not known to many, is the decisive and bold campaign which it began in 1984, all alone and unsupported, in order to save the unique Petrified Forest of Lesvos which up to 1980 had been fully ignored and left unexplored by the competent Greek agencies.
PH.E.A. managed after promoting, co-ordinating and financing for many years a far-reaching program for the protection and presentation - at a national and international scale - of this unique 15-20 million year old Monument of Nature, with the help of the University of Athens, to arouse the interest of the competent agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture. The successful conclusion of the PH.E.A. initiative lead to the beginnings of the creation of a Museum of Palaeontology (Natural History) on a site at "Sigri", chosen by PH.E.A.
The past year, the reforestation activities of PH.E.A. have extended also outside the Attiki area, with recent example the reforestation of the mountainous area of Chios (1997-2002). In co-operation with the Holy Nea Moni, PH.E.A. it undertook the reforestation of 700,000 sq.m. of land destroyed by fire at the Gerontio region, of the Municipality of Omeroupolis (15 km. outside the city of Chios). Presently Philodassiki's object is not only the creation of new forests, but also their protection from trespassers of any kind coveting these areas. It has been playing a leading part in encouraging and increasing the students' awareness on the importance of our forests and of their conservation, with lectures and trips in the forests created by PH.E.A. within the framework of their Environmental Education. It is contributing considerably in showing off the monuments and sites of our historical, religious and architectural heritage.
