Chairman’s message

The Management Body of Aenos National Park was established in 2002, initially to preserve and manage Aenos Natural Reserve. The National Park was founded back in 1962, mainly to protect what was left of the once thriving and majestic Aenos forest, almost entirely covered by Cephalonian fir (Abies cephalonica sp.), one of the finest forest trees. Since February 2018, the Body has undertaken the management and safeguard of European “Natura 2000” Network sites, located in Kefalonia and Ithaca, Ionian Islands. Financial resources for these Protected Areas derive from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN), the Green Fund and co-financed European research programs.Henceforward the main aim of the Management Body (MB) is the preservation of the biological diversity and geological heritage of Kefalonia and Ithaca, combined with the sustainable development of their Protected Areas. To achieve these goals, special consideration is given to the well-being of Kefalonia and Ithaca citizens, the people who live and work in the surroundings of protected sites and are employed in the primary sector and tourism. The (MB) seeks cooperation with local agencies, universities, research institutes as well as other European parks. It is already member of European Protected Areas Networks such as EUROPARC, Eurosite and MedPAN. At the same time, the (MB) aims to declare Kefalonia and Ithaca Geopark as an UNESCO Global Geopark and the institutionalization of the National Park as an ‘International Dark Sky Park’.

Priority sectors for cooperation include know-how exchange programmes, ecotourism development activities, environmental protection and monitoring, reducing the impact of climate change, and the sustainable development of Protected Areas in Kefalonia and Ithaca.

The Chairman of the Management Body of Aenos National Park

Dr Georgios Drakatos, Seismologist,

Emeritus Researcher, National Observatory of Athens