A strategic alliance that has been in place since 2017 in Kythera has already borne fruit. Thanks to the partnership of Kythira Foundation for Culture and Development (K.I.P.A.) and of Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Man (MedINA), the area of Rematia in Karavas «has been upgraded, revitalized and revived», as stated by Haris Tzortzopoulos, organic farmer, producer of traditional products and founder of Astarti - Tzortzopoulos Estate, a permanent resident of Kythera since 1997.
Kythera, a guide for an ambitious programme
The need to combat water scarcity and waterlogging of aquifers on small islands was what dictated the action plan of the two bodies in Kythera. The plan was based on use of stone terraces and entered into force in September 2020. The goal through the use of terraces would be to increase water infiltration into the ground by controlling water flow. As a site for implementation, the Remaña in Karava was chosen.
The results were impressive. In the very next days after the construction of the terraces, the flow of the stream was restored, stimulating the ecosystem of the area. This revitalization of biodiversity leaves a legacy for a “green future” and is also an «investment for our children», as Father Pavlos, a priest and permanent resident of Kythera since 2015, says.
As a result of the successful use of stone terraces in the Karava Strait, a project was developed and implemented from 2021, which is part of the overall programmatic design of the Mediterranean Islands Collective (MIC) initiative, launched and supported by the MAVA Foundation to develop an action plan for the sustainability of the Mediterranean islands. In this project MedINA is collaborating with WWF Hellas and the Hellenic Institute of Speleological Research (HISR). Crab pond of Paros.
The Kythira Foundation for Culture and Development (K.I.P.A.)
Since 2006, the KYTHIRA FOUNDATION OF CULTURE & DEVELOPMENT (KIPA), is working to make Kythera and Antikythera a hub of sustainable development, enhancing the quality of life of the residents and highlighting the cultural and natural heritage of the two islands.
The KIPA is a charitable non-profit foundation in the form of a non-profit organization based in Livadi Kythera. It was founded in 2006 by Georgios I. Kasimatis.
The aims of the Foundation are:
- To highlight and preserve the cultural (historical and folk) and natural heritage and tradition
- To contribute to the balanced development of all sectors of their society while ensuring and creating conditions for a high quality of life for their residents
- To protect the man-made and natural environment of the two islands
- Organise, execute and fund events, scientific research and projects
- To promote the spiritual and cultural development of Kythera and Antikythera
The Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Man (MedINA)
The Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Man (MedINA) was founded in 2003 as a non-profit organization based in Athens, with a focus on the Mediterranean region and beyond. Its broader aim is to help build a world where societies thrive in harmony with nature.
The MedINA is the brainchild of the successful architect and land planner Thymios Papagiannis, a visionary and a leading figure in the field of environmental and cultural heritage conservation, who has contributed significantly to research and policy issues in the fields of ecology and landscape over the last thirty years. Although initially focused on integrated nature and culture management through three priority areas - the cultural values of wetlands, landscapes and Sacred Natural Sites - over time MedINA has broadened its scope to three interrelated pillars: nature, culture and community participation.
MedINA's mission is to contribute to the well-being of local communities through the conservation and protection of natural resources and the enhancement of cultural heritage.
