ARCTUROS, one of the most recognizable Greek environmental NGOs, was founded in 1992 with a focus on the protection of wildlife fauna and its natural habitat; specifically on the preservation of the large wild carnivores that live in the Greek countryside, such as the bear and the wolf. The foundation of ARCTUROS was driven by the need to solve the problem of bear and wolf imprisonment, which was a common occurrence at the time. Other animals, such as the chamois, the otter, the deer, the roe deer, the jackal and the lynx, are also protected by ARCTUROS.

Besides the wildlife protection activities of ARCTUROS, priority has been given to scientific research, providing environmental education and raising public awareness on matters such as biodiversity and viability, while applying political pressure for change, based on programs and solutions.

Each year, ARCTUROS develops more activities; one pf the most important is the reproduction and perpetuation of the Greek shepherd dog. Besides the breeding program, the shepherd dogs are also distributed free of charge to farmers of the mountain country, contributing thus in the harmonious co-existence of humans and wildlife.

A timeline of ARCTUROS’ contributions

Since its inception in 1992 and for the past 23 years ARCTUROS has achieved significant milestones in safeguarding the welfare of animals and promoting environmental awareness.

In 1997, it played a pivotal role in bringing an end to the cruel practice of dancing bears, demonstrating a commitment to animal welfare. In the same year, the organization actively contributed to the prohibition of the use of animals by circuses in Greece.

In 1993, the organization initiated and managed special wildlife sanctuaries, dedicated to former captive bears and wolves. These sanctuaries, located in the areas of Nymfaio and Agrapidia at the municipality Florina,  serve as havens for these animals, promoting their well-being and rehabilitation.

ARCTUROS also operates information centers for the public, providing valuable resources and knowledge on wildlife conservation. The organization has actively participated in the Mediterranean program against the use of illegal and poisonous baits, addressing threats to wildlife in the region.

As part of its commitment to mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, ARCTUROS bred and donated Greek shepherd dogs to stock-breeders. This initiative aims to assist them in managing potential damages caused by bears or wolves in a more organic and effective manner.

In 2005, ARCTUROS established and maintains the National Bear Register, a groundbreaking initiative that collects bear DNA samples (hair) through specially designed traps placed on utility poles. This register contributes to the monitoring and conservation efforts for bear populations.

The NGO actively intervenes in highway alignment design and other types of construction projects that may have a negative environmental impact. The organization has also undertaken reforestation projects, upgrading bald woodland areas with the planting of 150,000 trees to date.

ARCTUROS n boasts a dedicated wildlife protection emergency crew, ready to respond to urgent conservation needs.  Furthermore, it has played a role in opening and revitalizing mountain trails, promoting sustainable and responsible outdoor recreation.

A highlight of ARCTUROS' global impact was hosting the 23rd International Conference on Bear Research and Management in 2014. This conference, the most significant in the field, was held for the first time in Greece and the Southeast Mediterranean, showcasing ARCTUROS' leadership in wildlife research and conservation.

Species Protected by ARCTUROS

Wolf

The wolf used to be the mammal with the biggest geographical distribution on the planet, covering nearly the whole of the northern hemisphere. Today, because of systematic hunting practices, a small population of would can be found in Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Scandinavian countries and eastern Europe. It has recently reappeared in France, Switzerland and Germany. In Greece, its distribution covers almost all of the country's mainland north of the area of Boeotia. It is estimated that there are 700 wolves in many small packs with no contact with one another, their presence being the strongest in areas with nomadic stock raising or areas with big mountain ranges without intense human activity.

Livestock depredation because of the decline of the wolf's natural prey population (deer, roe, wild boar) combined with the expansion of human activity even in the almost inaccessible, secluded areas (big construction projects, uncontrolled forest road networks, expansion of pastures) and the resulting reduction of forest areas, endanger the wolf's survival. Despite the strict State laws that are in force since 1991 forbidding their usage, the mangles and poisoned baits are still widespread practices of killing wolves.

Greek Shepherd Dog

The Greek shepherd dog has been bred in the mountainous regions for centuries, in order to guard the flocks. Its adaption to the harsh conditions of mountainous stock raising have helped it develop characteristics that make it an invaluable guardian, able to face the attacks of large carnivores such as the bear and the wolf. Today, this traditionally Greek dog breed is under danger of extinction due to the reduction of nomadic pastoralism and the uncontrolled interbreeding that has altered its characteristics. It is estimated that less than 3.000 purebred Greek shepherd dogs have remained. In an effort to preserve the breed, ARCTUROS runs the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program since 1998.

The greatest threat to the shepherd dog’s life are poisoned baits.

Bear

The brown bear has the widest worldwide distribution of all species of bears. Today, bears are only found in northwestern North America, Europe and most of North Asia. In Greece there are an estimated 450 bears living in two independent populations, which are not geographically linked. The largest population lives in the Pindos Mountains, and the other in the Rhodope Mountains. In recent years there has been consistent evidence of the presence of bears in the mountain axis of Vora-Olympos and Central Greece, even down to the mountainous Nafpaktia, an area where there have been no sightings in the last 70 years.

The bear faces two types of threats; poaching and the extensive use of poisoned baits which result in the death of the animal, and fragmentation and loss of habitat via human intervention i.e the construction of large road projects, indiscriminate opening of forest roads, illegal logging, fires, and the installation of wind turbines and dams. Indicative of the problem is that since 2003 more than 50 bears have been killed in road accidents.

Otter

The Eurasian otter is a small animal that lives on the banks of rivers and lakes, and only where the water is very clean. It is considered one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the continent. It is an important health indicator of mountain water so it is strictly protected by all the countries of the EU. The otter's diet consists 80% of fish, but also of amphibians, reptiles (water snakes), invertebrates (mostly crabs), birds and small mammals.

According to estimations, in Greece exists one of the densest and greatly expanded otter populations. In central Greece occurs a small splitting of the populations, while some isolated populations appear in the islands of Corfu and Evia.

The major threats in the life of the otter are the pollution of rivers and lakes, wetland drainage and hydroelectric dams, the destruction of riparian vegetation in lakes and rivers and the flooding of its natural habitat by artificial reservoirs in the rivers.

Deer

Deer are distributed in almost all of Europe, Northern Africa, most of the mountain ranges of Southern Asia, Siberia, the Far East and Northern America. In Greece, their numbers used to be high throughout the country; unfortunately, today they can only be found in the mountain of Parnitha and in Rhodopi and Epirus in small concentrations. The population of the Red Deer has been reduced so much (about 600 animals remain) that the species is considered to be near extinction and considered as 'Critically Endangered' according to the Red Book of Endangered Species in Greece.

Illegal hunting is the most serious threat for the deer, as well he intervention on and degradation of its natural habitat by human activity and wildfires.

Roe Deer

It is the smallest species of deers. It can live in various forest habitats (deciduous or mixed conifer forests) and occurs in big numbers in central and northern Europe. In Greece, only small populations of roe deer have been left at the mountainous regions of the mainland. The species is now characterized as 'vulnerable', meaning that if it continues being exterminated it will soon face extinction. Illegal hunting and degradation of its natural habitat due to human activity such as illegal felling are the biggest threats roe deer face.

Lynx

Jackal

The Jackal belongs to the canine family and can be found in Europe (mostly the Balkans), in Asia and Africa. It is a small mammal that, despite its ominous reputation, feeds of plants and fruit. In Greece, estimations show that the jackal population does not exceed the number of 1.500 animals.

These are limited to isolated populations in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Halkidiki, the coastal area of Fokida, Pelo A crucial reason causing the dramatic reduction of the jackal population is hunting.

The jackal is the only medium-sized mammal whose number has suffered such a rapid decline in Greece in the recent years. Other factors contributing to that are the destruction of its natural habitat due to fires and other anthropogenic interventions.

The myth behind the name

Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Boötes, its name a Latinised from the ancient Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος (Arcturos) meaning "Guardian of the Bear”,  from ἄρκτος (arktos), "bear" and οὖρος (ouros), "watcher, guardian." Behind the name lies a story from Greek mythology:

Callisto was the daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia. She was still a little girl, when she swore eternal loyalty to goddess Artemis (Diana). She took a vow to remain virgin and promised to follow and serve only the goddess, therefore she moved to reside in the woods, hunting wild beasts. Zeus saw her once and fell for her and in order to seduce her, he took the form of Artemis, the goddess she had vowed to serve. By doing so, he managed to sleep with her. The fruit of this love, was a boy named Arcas. Zeus knew that his companion Juno (Hera) would be furious, and would punish Callisto. Thus, he decided to turn Callisto into a bear. She was wandering into the woods for years, in search of her son.

When she finally found him, all grown up, she wanted to hold him in her arms. Not knowing she was his mother, Arcas attempted to kill her. Feeling sorry for them and in order to prevent matricide, Zeus turned both of them into stars, Ursa Major (the Great Bear) and Ursa Minor (the Little Bear), and took them with him into the sky. Angry Juno then requested from Ocean, the river that surrounds the Earth, never to let them wash into his waters. That is why these two stars never set. Finally, Zeus placed a guardian star, ARCTUROS, by their side to protect them from Juno's jealousy. His name means guardian of the bear, and he is to accompany and protect through eternity.

The Bear Conservation Area and the the Bear Information Center at Nymfaio, as well as the Wolf & Lynx Conservation Area at Agrapidies, Florina can be visited. You can find out more on the ARCTUROS organization and their activities through their Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts.

I.L.

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"Migratory Birds" is a newspaper published in Greece by a team of teenage and young migrants, refugees and Greeks. The newspaper, which is an initiative of the Network for Children’s Rights, is multilingual, publishing articles in Arabic, English, Farsi, Greek and Urdu. This initiative aims to give a voice to young refugees and empower them tell their own stories and expresses themselves, while reaching out to the wider public and informing them on the reality of refugee life. Migratory Birds aspires to contribute to the promotion of intercultural dialogue and to the fight against xenophobia, while facilitating the social integration of refugees and migrants.

Young Journalists

The idea for this project was born by the hesitation of people living in refugee camps to talk to journalists, as they believed that their stories would not be presented as they should. So, in 2016, fifteen Afghan teenagers and a young Greek woman decided to become journalists themselves and be the voices of the refugee population, with the help of the "Young Journalists" program. This program was developed by the Network for Children’s Rights with the aim to familiarize at teenagers and young adults with media and journalism, it is an original system of non-formal education as well as an inclusive training practice, equipped with tools for the inclusion of vulnerable groups.

Currently, adolescents from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Albania, Georgia and Greece participate in writing and editing the newspaper, which is published every two months in the form of a supplement for the daily "Ef.Syn." The issues, also distributed in schools and refugee camps, are free. Since first issue of the newspaper was released, the group evolved and is constantly being enriched with a lot of new members from different backgrounds, nationalities and languages. In 2019, the team launched the website of “Migratory Birds” and later on, the web radio station "Dandelion”.

Thanks to workshops, journalism courses, visits to professional locations, but also the editorial meetings organized by the Young Journalists program, the young participants manage to form a theoretical framework which allows them to successfully conduct interviews with political figures, successful professionals, etc. while three of the participants successfully completed, during the past year, internships in media companies.

Every week the participants get together, research and write their articles, conduct interviews, discuss current affairs, record broadcasts and prepare the next issue of the newspaper. The topics covered in the articles vary from refugees' journeys to their interests in art, sports and culture, among others. Among the interviewees of the team are the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the US ambassador, the president of the Roma community in Greece and an American expert on human trafficking. The program has expanded over the years, now including multi-generational immigrants and young Greeks. All participants are aged 13 to 24 and work as volunteers.

Access to media is a powerful tool that can strengthen marginalized and vulnerable population groups, such as migrants and refugees. It is also a platform that allows adolescents to communicate their problems and concerns, but also to develop their skills and share their worries and dreams for the future, while maintaining contact with their native language and culture. Furthermore, interaction with other adolescents and adults, outside of refugee accommodation centers and homes for unaccompanied minors, improves young refugees’ integration into existing social networks and motivates them to actively participate in them."We facilitate the process of integrating refugees into society, in particular through this cooperation between people from different backgrounds. This helps avoid negative reactions and fight against xenophobia,” says Network director Panos Christodoulou.

The Migratory Birds journal also aims to combat the underrepresentation and sometimes stereotypical presentation of refugees in the media. A Council of Europe report concluded in 2017 that "refugees and migrants have few opportunities to speak directly about their experiences and suffering. More often than not, they are singled out and portrayed in images as silent victims."

The "Young Journalists" program was recognized as a “best practice” in integration and included in was included in a practical handbook for professionals working with children prepared by the Council of Europe Children’s Rights Division. In this context, the EFIVOS project was created, another initiative of the Network for the Children’s Rights, with the aim of upgrading the “Young Journalists” program, focusing on the extension of the good practice throughout the EU and further contributing to the acquisition of specialized skills by young people.

The publication of "Migratory Birds" and the production of the "Radio Dandelion" podcasts are carried out by the Child Rights Network with the support of the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR.

In the past, the program has also been supported by the Dutch Embassy in Athens, Unicef, the German Foreign Ministry, Save the Children and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

Network for Children’s Rights

The Network for Children’s Rights acquired non-profit organisation status in 2004, but actually began as an informal action group four years earlier with the aim of raising awareness of problems relating to the rights of children and interceding in order to solve them. It encourages initiatives and actions to ensure that the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child is implemented in Greece, to guarantee respect for diversity and to put an end to discrimination. Its members are teachers, parents, university lecturers, authors, artists and children who work on a voluntary basis both within and outside the school community. They carry out surveys, campaigns and programmes.

The Network cooperates with international bodies and other organizations and associations in Greece and Europe, organizes two campaigns per year, publishes publications, rewards students for their initiatives, offers material and moral support to groups of vulnerable minors and to their families, organizes seminars for teachers and parents, trains volunteers and encourages socialization through various activities.

Photos: Migratory Birds Page FB

I.L., translated from the Grèce Hebdo article : ‘Migratory Birds’ le journal des jeunes réfugiés en Grèce

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The National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades was the first marine park established in Greece, and remains one of the largest marine protected areas (MPAs) in Europe. It is a site of special interest due to its environmental but also cultural value, and is home to many endangered species of both flora and fauna, including the Mediterranean monk seal.

In recent years, the Management Authority of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades (NMPANS) has found a valuable ally in the effort to safeguard the biodiversity of this natural reserve: the Greek non-profit organisation Thalassa Foundation, with the cooperation of the Hellenic Society for the Study and protection of the Monk Seal (MOm) are offering valuable support to the team in charge of the park’s management, and the ensuing results are already very encouraging.

History of the park

The efforts to protect the area’s rich plant and animal life began in the 1970s, and the site was eventually designated a National Marine Park by presidential decree in 1992. The management framework for the site was established in 2003 by Joint Ministerial Decision, which appointed a Management Authority with a 10-member Board of Directors where national, regional and local authorities as well as local professional associations and NGOs are represented.

NMPANS is included in the Natura 2000 network. It has been confirmed as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) in 2006 (proposed in 1996) and designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in 2011 (national legal reference: Law 3937/29-3-11 [OJ 60 A]). The park is also a member of the Network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean (MedPAN).

Alonissos and Sporades

The island of Alonissos is hilly, with its southern part spread with pine forests and its northern part covered mainly by shrubland. Agriculture, cattle-raising and fishing are the main sources of income for locals, while tourism has also been on the rise in recent years. Other islands of the area include Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Skantzoura, Gioura, Psathoura and Piperi.

The park encompasses both terrestrial and marine areas that form an ecosystem of great biodiversity. The legislation governing its management aims at protecting rare species and their natural habitats, as well as the cultural heritage of the area, and promoting development based on the sustainable management of the area’s natural resources.

Significance of the site

The site represents a complex of terrestrial and marine habitats that is unique in the Mediterranean. It contains a variety of vegetation types -especially marine priority habitat types of excellent representativity- and of flora and fauna species, among which many are endemic, rare, or protected, and some are at their southern- or northern-most limits of distribution.

NMPANS is among the largest marine protected areas (MPAs) in Europe, covering 2491.51 km²; it is divided into two zones, A & B. Zone A (divided into nine sub-zones) is designated a Special Protection Area (SPA), conferring protection against any project which is likely to have significant adverse impacts on the integrity of natural habitats and the conservation of the site’s fauna and flora. Zone B encompasses the populated areas of the park, where most human activities are allowed, with certain restrictions and under surveillance by the Management Authority of NMPANS.

The site is considered to be of great ecological quality and importance; the numerous caves with beaches formed at the sea cliffs of the islands constitute ideal shelters for the Monk seal population, which is estimated to be the most important in the Mediterranean. The island of Piperi, which forms the core area of the park, is the most important breeding area for the Monk seal, and an important nature reserve for many raptors, as well as rare plant species, pine forests, kermes oaks etc. Piperi is a designated Natural Monument of Greece, and is protected by the Barcelona Convention.

A Monk Seal Rehabilitation Centre run by MOm operates on Alonissos. Several other rare, endangered or threatened species are found in the area, while is also an important site for species breeding on coastal cliffs, for migratory waders, raptors and passerines. The entire marine area of the site, particularly east of Alonnisos, is used by Cory's and Yelkouan Shearwaters for feeding and resting. The island of Skantzoura, along with its neighbouring isles, Strogilo and Polemica, is an important nature reserve of seagulls and Eleonora’s falcons, while the island of Gioura is host to Capra aegagrus dorcas, an isolated population that lives there exclusively.

Visitors at the shipwreck of Peristera on its “open to public” weekend (6-7 April) ©Ministry of Culture and Sports- Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, photo by G. Issaris

Besides the scientific and educational interest of both the marine and the terrestrial area, the site also presents a great archaeological interest with relicts covering the prehistorical, the classical, and the byzantine ages (cave findings, shipwrecks, old monasteries, and churches). One of the most interesting archaeological sites the Peristera Shipwreck, a merchant ship of the Classical period (5th century BC) considered to be one of the largest of that era. It is estimated that it was able to carry three to four thousand amphorae, which were one of the main trade products in antiquity. More than four thousand amphorae and other artefacts are spread over an area of 300 square meters (22-33 metres depth), which is why the site is set to become an underwater museum.

Thalassa Foundation and MOm

Thalassa Foundation is a non-profit environmental organisation established in 2013, promoting conservation and sustainability of the Mediterranean, especially in the area of Greece. In recent years, the foundation, in collaboration with the Hellenic Society for the Study and protection of the Monk Seal (MOm) and the Management Authority of the NMPANS, has supported a number of conservation actions for the protection and the scientific monitoring of the local natural environment of the area.

The foundation has conceded an 850m2 lot to MOm for the creation of a fully equipped environmental centre on the island of Alonissos. In 2015-2016, "Thalassa" supported several initiatives to tackle plastics pollution, starting with Alonissos which set out to become the first plastic-bag-free island though the "Plastic Bag Free Alonissos" project, implemented by MOm and the NGO Mediterranean SOS Network.

In 2017, Thalassais co-funded the project of the scientific monitoring and recording of key parameters of the local marine ecosystem and more specifically: the mapping of Posidonia oceanica, the assessment of fish stocks and the quality of sea-water, through a number of chemical and biological indicators. MOm was the coordinator of the project while the study of fish stocks and sea water was undertaken by researchers of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the supervision of Dr. Thanasis Tsikliras and Dr. Dimitra Bobori, respectively.

One of the most important aids provided by Thalassa Foundation to the park’s Management Authority was the donation of two speedboats (including a fuel budget) along with specilalised staff, something which has greatly contributed to the monitoring the park by the NMPANS authority and the coast guard. Thanks to the donation, there have been more patrols against illegal fishing and other activities forbidden in the area.

The initiative further includes raising awareness among local fishermen regarding the risks and dangers of overfishing, illegal and uncontrolled fishing, in violation of the existing rules regulations. The results of this initiative have been very encouraging and have indeed succeeded in sensitising professionals, who now seem committed to turning to sustainable fishing practices and to contribute to the conservation of the Park.

Recently, Thalassa Foundation co-hosted, along with the Management Body of NMPANS, a meeting of the representatives of Management Bodies from nine Marine Protected Areas, which took place in Alonissos on 30 September-1 October 2019. The meeting concluded successfully, with the participants agreeing on conclusions/proposals with regards to the management of the MPAs and the sustainability of the fisheries in these areas; they also decided to create a Network of Managers of the Hellenic Marine Protected Areas, which will support their work and enhance their networking and communication.

Read also via Greek News Agenda: A Hopeful Comeback for Endangered Sea Turtles and Seals in Greece; Four shipwrecks to become underwater museums; The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research: mission and achievements

N.M.

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Katerina Gregos is one of the most dynamic art curators living and working in Brussels, as artistic director of the international art fair “Art Brussels”. She has received international distinctions for her work as an art historian, independent curator and author and has curated important international exhibitions, such as the Danish participation at the 54^th Venice Biennale, Belgium’s participation at the 56^th Venice Biennale and last year’s 5^th Thessaloniki Biennale.  Distinguished for her work as a founding director and curator of the Centre of Contemporary Art Foundation Deste (1997-2002) and Artistic Director of Argos - Centre for Art and Media in Brussels (2006-2008), Gregos has curated a new exhibition opening its doors to the public tomorrow at the Art Space Pythagorion in Samos.

Entitled “A world not ours” and running from August 5 – October 15 in Samos, the exhibition focuses on the drama of the refugees from a humanitarian perspective. The location of the exhibition was not randomly selected: Samos is one of the three Greek islands (along with Mytilene and Kos) at the heart of a humanitarian tragedy taking place in the Aegean since 2015.  The artists involved in the project attempt to bring to light the very complex issue of the refugee crisis, with narrations and by challenging people’s prejudices so as to awaken public opinion and address this unresolved issue that Europe as a whole is trying to handle. Installations, performances, photo exhibitions and film screenings by artists, photographers, filmmakers and activists will be on display to highlight the issues behind one of the most pressing matters of our times, and create empathy for the problems that refugees face, like forced displacement and the experience of homelessness, perpetual insecurity, diasporic identities and existential limbo, as well as challenge standardised media representations and polarised narratives of the refugee crisis.

The title of the exhibition comes from the award-winning homonymous 2012 film by director Mahdi Fleifel, which borrowed its name from a book by the Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani, and talks about the diaspora experience and the search of identity by people in exile, living at a refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Artists, Yannis Behrakis, Tanja Boukal, Róza El-Hassan, Ninar Esber, Mahdi Fleifel, Marina Gioti, Juice Rap News, Sallie Latch, Yorgos Moutafis and Diller Scofidio & Renfro, Mark Hansen, Laura Kurgan, and Ben Rubin, in collaboration with Robert Gerard Pietrusko and Stewart Smith based on an idea by Paul Virilio, will present their work at “Art Space Pythagorion” an events and exhibition space operated by the Schwarz Foundation in Samos. In fact, this particular art space promotes the mission of the Foundation, which advocates that awareness of an enduring historical tradition plays a vital role in understanding current problems as well as in imagining the future.

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