Greek, US Environmental Groups Launch Project to Protect Mt. Olympus

Greek and US environmental groups recently announced their collaboration in a project to protect Mt. Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece where the ancient Gods resided.

In an agreement sponsored by the US Embassy in Greece, Greek environmental organization Ecogenia will collaborate with California Conservation Corps, the largest and oldest environmental protection corps worldwide.

Established in 2021, Ecogenia’s goal is to become a national youth corps, where thousands of young Greeks are empowered to contribute to climate action and build a resilient Greek society.

“From California to Olympus” project

The “From California to Olympus” project, is focusing on mobilizing young people to build it climate resilience at local level in the country, in a period when the climate crisis and natural disasters are a matter of the highest priority for Greece

The program has as its central pillar the two-month educational mission of a group of volunteers from the California Conservation Corps, to exchange knowhow and obtain training on preparedness in the field, such as creating fire protection zones, cleaning flammable biomass and education of the local community regarding prevention in the areas around the Olympus National Park, in central Macedonia.

The project includes the creation and dissemination of a practical manual for how municipal and regional authorities can utilize the model of “social service” and in turn create local project teams for project resilience, specifically around prevention and relief from disasters.

With an emphasis on the new generation and the acquisition of green skills that meet the needs of the labor market for the green transition, the program will culminate in a Green Jobs Fair, in collaboration with Deree, the American College of Greece, where companies from the private sector and agencies will have the opportunity to chat with new talent in the field of sustainable development.

“In a particularly difficult period, such as the one we are going through in the wake of the disasters of last summer, the cooperation with the US Embassy will strengthen both the programmatic and strategic work of Ecogenia so that it continues to empower local communities through climate resilience, and of including the new generation at the forefront of climate action,” said co-founder of the organization, Erika Spagakou.

In an era of successive crises, the fight against the climate crisis is a significant opportunity for global strategic partnerships that drive innovation, attract new jobs and investments, and improve everyone’s quality of life, Ecogenia noted.

Many people come to visit Greece with a mission in mind – to visit Olympus, the mountain of the ancient Greek gods — and tour the nearby town of Litochoro and the sights nearby.

Mount Olympus is one of the great treasures of Greece. It is famous not only because of Greek mythology but because of its great beauty and the challenging climbs it offers to adventurers.

For untold thousands of years, it has inspired hundreds of stories and myths.

Related: The Hidden Treasures of Olympus, the Mountain of the Greek Gods