Dear friends of Kythera and KIPA,
2025 brought the Foundation many successes but also a great loss. Its founder George I. Kasimatis, our own George, who was our spiritual father, and as he said, the Kythira Foundation for Culture and Development (KIPA) was his child. His immense personality, his most important scientific and writing work and his contribution and participation in public life, both locally and nationally, rank him among the great figures of our country.
But above all he had Kythera and for them he did everything. He had a vision for the islands of Kythera and Antikythera for which he worked hard both as President of the Trifyllion Foundation and as founder and President of KIPA. His vision is reflected in the preamble to the founding statutes of KIPA where, among other things, he states:
«Our small Foundation is motivated by the basic thought that no institution can be called charitable, nor can it achieve charitable purposes without an ethos of operation, administration and management. But also no public benefit goal can become a reality without the passion and passion of the persons who have undertaken its realization. Therefore, the fundamental rules that will govern the selection and action of the human resources of our Foundation should be the ethos and passion for the good of our island...our small institution is «Kytheraic», it belongs to everyone.
and it needs all of us. It aspires to become great and asks for the help of all those who love Kythera and Antikythera, believe in the value of man and resist everything that threatens it.»
Kythera makes history: its beekeeping tradition in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece
The Kythera Foundation for Culture & Development is very pleased and proud to inform that on the 1st of July 2025, a historic distinction for Kythera was achieved: the registration of the element «Beekeeping tradition of Kythera» in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece.
Specifically, in accordance with the principles governing the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) and its implementation in our country, KIPA submitted a detailed dossier to the Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage, with a proposal for an Intangible Property, the Beekeeping Tradition of Kythera. Following the unanimous opinion of the Council of Intangible Cultural Heritage (CIPC), «as the agricultural activity interwoven on the one hand with the collective memory and identity of Kytherians everywhere and on the other hand with the local economy, to the sustainability of which it contributes significantly», which was confirmed by the recent approval of the Minister of Culture Mrs. Lina Mendoni, was held today by F.E.K the registration of the item in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece.
(Proto No: 301126)
https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/%CE%A8%CE%92%CE%97%CE%9246%CE%9D%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%A4-%CE%A5%CE%972?inline=true
The recognition of the value of our beekeeping and the registration of our heritage in the National Register is the historic opportunity offered to Kythera to preserve the beekeeping tradition, whose centuries-old know-how and part of the identity of its operators are in danger of being lost. We hope that the inclusion of our heritage in the National Register will safeguard the prestige of our beekeeping capital and give impetus to the inspirational campaign of the new generation to realise its value and perpetuate it, despite the enormous challenges
Inquiry on the Plastic Bottles in Kythera
A recent survey conducted by members and friends of KIPA from January to October 2024, among the permanent population of Kythera, amounting to 3,500 people, revealed that 2.5 million plastic water bottles were consumed in just ten months. This alarming figure highlights the significant environmental impact of plastic waste on the island.
In recent years, tourism in Kythera has grown dramatically, bringing both economic benefits and significant challenges. One of the most pressing issues is the quality and quantity of drinking water. The available water supply is not sufficient to meet the needs of both residents and tourists, especially during the hot summer months. In addition, the quality of the water often becomes undrinkable during this period, as recent quality controls have confirmed. As a result, the only viable solution for many is to buy and consume water from plastic bottles imported en masse from the mainland.
Unfortunately, most of these empty plastic bottles remain on the island, often buried, causing significant environmental risks. It is vital for the sea, the land and the people of Kythera to address this issue, starting with educating children in primary and secondary schools to raise awareness and encourage participation in recycling efforts.
The ecosystems of Kythera are critical for both marine and aerial biodiversity, acting as an important migration route for birds from Africa to Europe. For thousands of years, Kythera has maintained an ecological balance, integrating sea, land and human agricultural activities, supporting a diversity of flora and fauna. This balance, maintained through gentle human intervention, has preserved the ecological integrity of the island. However, Kythera is a closed ecosystem and plastic waste has a dramatic and direct impact on its environment.
The members and friends of KIPA will try to implement programs to resolve this situation, aiming to maintain the environmental balance and protect the unique ecosystem of Kythera.
Event for FUTURAL
On Thursday 20 February 2025, at 18:30, the second FUTURAL event was successfully held, following the meeting that took place in October 2024. The event took place at the Kythiraikos Association of the Country and the two platforms of the European FUTURAL programme, which is implemented by KIPA for Kythira, were presented.
The Lisbon Council, which is in charge of creating the first platform, presented the platform for the maintenance of Kythera's paths. The presentation was made by Annalisa and Marcelo, who travelled from Sardinia, Italy to Kythera to present it to us.
Subsequently, the Director of Programmes of KIPA, Antonia Facea presented the e-learning platform, which includes courses in beekeeping, olive growing and botany of the island.
During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to connect to the two platforms from their mobile phones, try them out and give their opinion, exchanging views. This activity received very positive feedback from the attendees, and we look forward to activating the platforms to be tested by the general public.
We would like to thank all participants for their presence and we look forward to your participation in our next actions.
Participation in the Salon du Randonné Hiking Exhibition
KIPA successfully participated in the Salon du Randonneur hiking exhibition through Paths of Greece, which took place in Lyon, France from 21 to 23 March. The exhibition attracted 15,000 visitors, exclusively hikers.
During the exhibition, we offered self-guided tour packages to visitors. We created 7-day self-guided tours for each destination, enhancing the promotion and visitation of your sites and opening contacts with potential future visitors.
The following Municipalities also participated in the event:
Municipality of Skiathos
Municipality of Hydra
Region of Crete - Chania Region
Municipality of Kasos
Municipality of Kythira
Finally, a presentation on hiking in Greece was held at the exhibition on Saturday 22 March.
Kythera Trails: the island of Kythera at your feet - now digitally!
Kythera Trails opens a new chapter in sustainable tourism and cultural experiences with the launch of the new Kythera Trails mobile app and a completely revamped website www.kytheratrails.gr.
It is an integrated digital ecosystem that brings Kythera closer to the modern traveler: with free offline app, interactive maps, fully documented routes and dozens of hidden treasures of the island.
The development of both the application and the website was carried out by Paths of Greece, while the project was funded by the Network of Cooperation of Municipalities of the Attica Islands, in the framework of actions for the promotion of the cultural and natural heritage of the islands.
The new Kythera Trails app - The island in the palm of your hand
Available free of charge for Android and iOS, the app includes:
Full offline mode: GPS navigation without signal or WiFi
Rich information for each route: length, duration, altitude, pictures, points of interest
WIND TURNERS: The timeline of wind turbines in Kythera for the year 2025
The year 2025 was a pivotal year for the developments of wind turbines in Kythera, as in May 2025 the public consultation that would decide the future of the island opened. KIPA, in collaboration with the Kythera Citizens' Movement - Dynamo played a leading role, not only in terms of participation in the legal battles, supporting the appeals through a special account that accepts donations for legal fees, but also in terms of participation in the public consultation and strategy.
Read more: https://kipa-foundation.org/anemogennitries-to-chroniko-ton-anemogennitrion-sta-kythira-gia-to-etos-2025/
KIT GREETING FRANCE 2025
KIPA participated in this year's Agricultural and Livestock Exhibition of Fratzia, where we presented our emblematic certified Kythera Trails for sustainable tourism, the agri-food programmes Terra Kytheria and FUTURAL, and the important distinction of the registration of our beekeeping tradition in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece. We also informed about the Foundation's proposals after the fires, suggesting better water management, diligent fire protection, and preservation of the natural environment from change of use after the fire. We elaborated on supportive actions, such as the creation of bee parks and communicated the KYTHERACE project aimed at the «Kythera Seed Ark».
Finally we honored the producers of babakia Th. Kalokairinos, A. Samiou Marentis, P. Hlenzos and M. Megalokonomos, «for their constant hard work, their contribution to the perpetuation of tradition and the preservation of local varieties, their knowledge in the management of water shortage and their respect for the Kytherian land».
Here is the full greeting: https://kipa-foundation.org/kipa-chairetismos-fratsia-2025/
After the recent fire a goodwill concert for Kythera
A special concert was held in London under the auspices of KIPA, by the classical string group Allcomers Music, and in particular by three internationally renowned musicians, Florence Cooke (violin), Ruth Gibson (viola), and Adi Tal (cello). The concert was broadcast live on Saturday, September 13 at the Zidoros Multipurpose Hall in Kapsali, and was rebroadcast in a special screening on Saturday, September 27 at the Potamos Cultural Center, in collaboration with the Friends of Kythira Museums Association (FMK).
The concert is the first collaboration of KIPA after the summer fire, and was held in support and solidarity with the Kythera community affected by the fires.
The aim of the concert was to contribute to KIPA's plans to develop a valid strategy to mitigate the effects of fires on nature and the restoration of burnt areas, with supporting actions such as the creation of bee parks, the repair of dry stone walls, the support of traditional methods of dry farming (bambacia), the establishment of a local seed bank, etc.
With this concert as a starting point, the K.I.P.A.'s Kythera Fire Recovery Initiative was born, supported by a special account at the National Bank of Greece:
IBAN: GR0401103800000038000395780, SWIFT: ETHNGRAA
For those interested in contributing to the Foundation's initiative, they can donate directly to our special account which will remain open for as long as we need to implement our proposals, and will be reinforced with supportive actions in the coming years for this purpose, of which we will keep the community informed.
Joint Announcement by KIPA and the environmental organisations MedINA, WWF Hellas & Buluki
We were pleased to see the systematic effort that we have developed over the last six years, with the construction of stone terraces of micro-barriers in Karavas, being recognized and adopted by the State as an essential tool for prevention and rehabilitation after the fires. The following is an excerpt from a joint statement by the CIPA and environmental organizations regarding the adoption of micro-dams as erosion and flood control projects after the summer fires:
«The nightmare of the great fire of 2017 returned this summer in Kythera, burning more than 28,000 acres of Kythera land, i.e. over 10% of the total area of the island.
Faced with the challenge of restoring the burnt landscape and protecting it from erosion and flooding, we welcome the rapid reaction of the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment and the Piraeus Forestry Department for the approval of the erosion control study prepared by the Attica Forestry Department for the areas affected by the fire.
In particular, we are pleased with the decision to include in the study the application of stone terraces, where the technical specifications and the budget for their construction are defined in a very specific way. This development is a milestone, as it integrates for the first time dry stone structures into the framework of forestry projects and sets a precedent for all future studies in this field.
Small stone terraces, as a measure of sponge that holds back surface runoff, slows down water flow and contributes to the enrichment of underground aquifers, have proven to be particularly effective on the arid Aegean islands. They are a Nature-based Solution (NbS) of vital importance for ephemeral streams, prolonging the period of water retention in them, thus increasing biodiversity. This practice, based on traditional knowledge and dry stone techniques, is an integral part of the intangible cultural heritage of island communities. Its revival through modern forestry restoration projects is not only a scientifically informed choice, but also an act of preservation of collective memory, of man's relationship with the landscape and of the very identity of the islands...»
Here is the full joint statement: https://kipa-foundation.org/meta-ti-fotia-erchetai-i-apokatastasi-oi-lithinoi-anavathmoi-prostateyoyn-ta-kythira/
Airlift of injured Vassilaetou
A king eagle was found injured with multiple fractures on our island. KIPA played a leading role in the coordinated efforts to airlift him from Kythera to the ANIMA centre, overcoming bureaucratic difficulties in order to hospitalise him.
The king eagle is one of the rarest birds of prey in Europe. It is mainly a migratory species that spreads from south-eastern Europe to Lake Baikal and northern Pakistan, while a large part of its European population winters in the Middle East, passing through the skies of Kythera.
The acquaintance, knowledge, preservation and promotion of the avifauna of Kythera is one of the Foundation's objectives for the coming years.
The secrets of the bee and digital learning: A special action in Kythera
KIPA, in the framework of the European project FUTURAL, organized an interactive educational activity dedicated to the world of bees and the art of beekeeping, with the students of the large classes (4th, 5th and 6th) of Potamos Primary School on Tuesday 9th December 2025.
The purpose of the visit was the presentation and testing of the new e-learning platform developed through FUTURAL.
During the action, the students were informed about the work of KIPA and its offer in Kythera, navigated the digital platform, browsed the e-book and watched educational videos, and answered a digital quiz and an evaluation questionnaire, helping to improve the tools!
This action is part of the commitment of KIPA and the FUTURAL programme to link education with local tradition and new technologies, investing in the new generation of Kythera.
Workshop «Kythera after the fire of 2025 : Restoration - Regeneration, Prevention» and KIPA Alliance with environmental organizations
KIPA in cooperation with the Kytheraiko Association Kythera Cultural Centre, organized on Saturday 13 December an important event - open discussion, entitled «Kythera after the fire of 2025 : Restoration - Regeneration, Prevention», and invited renowned experts and valuable collaborators from environmental organizations and institutions, including the Hellenic Society for Nature Conservation, WWF - Greece, MedINA, IMDO / ELGO «Demetra» and the University of the Aegean.
The aim of the workshop was to present the data and to create an alliance of institutions and distinguished scientists for the good of the island, in order to draw up a valid strategy for the mitigation of the effects of the recent fires on the nature of Kythera and the vital background of the inhabitants, as well as for the active action of fire prevention.
In conclusion of the workshop, the CFS response to the fire threat before and after is clear: It is the combination of scientific knowledge through the cooperation of stakeholders, the strengthening of the primary sector, with respect to the Kythera land and traditional practices, and the diligence to be demonstrated by the local community through the role of volunteerism.
Here is our full conference:
KIPA, with deep sensitivity towards the events that shook Kythera, due to the devastating fires of the summer, has cancelled many planned activities for the year 2025, in solidarity with all those affected. Instead, with respect for nature and care for the island, the Foundation has made it a priority for the coming years to support initiatives to restore the natural environment that have an impact on the livelihood of the inhabitants.
Έτσι λοιπόν το ΚΙΠΑ προέβη σε στρατηγική συμμαχία με σημαντικούς περιβαλλοντικούς φορείς, όπως την Ελληνική Εταιρία Προστασίας Φύσης ΕΕΠΦ, το WWF – Ελλάς, το MedINA, το Ινστιτούτο Μεσογειακών Δασικών
Ecosystems IMDO / ELGO «Demetra», the Hellenic Ornithological Society, the Buluki Group and the University of the Aegean, which was formalized after the December workshop. Under the umbrella of this environmental alliance, we intend to cooperate with renowned experts such as the Forestry Officer Mr. Nikos Georgiadis, the Emeritus Professor of Biogeography and Ecology Ms. Theodora Petanidou, the researcher Mr. Miltiadis Athanasiou, etc.
Counting the losses, apart from lime trees, beehives and bird habitats, in KIPA we also take into account the burnt nature surrounding two of our marked trails, KYTHERA TRAILS (the emblematic project of KIPA and a lever of the island's soft tourism development), the M41 and a part of the M44 - along with their markings.
With a sense of responsibility for the physical recovery and prevention of future fires, we will give weight to both scientific knowledge and local knowledge and intuition of the community. In this way we hope to prevent risky interventions that disturb the balance between the man-made and natural environment of our island.
KYTHERACE: Kythera has its own Seed Bank
The newly established «Kythera Seed Ark» is an initiative of MedINA in cooperation with KIPA and with the support of the A.G. Leventis Foundation. Our offices in Kato Livadi now host the Kythera Seed Bank for the systematic collection and recording of local varieties of the island, the safe preservation of propagating material, the exchange and sharing of seeds. At the same time, it also serves as a reference point for the island's network of conservationists.
Many local varieties of Kythera, such as wheat, wheat koutrullo and dimini, tsirigotiko beans, watermelon and melon as well as ajouri, manarola and sweetcorn are included in the material of the «Ark» and can be freely distributed to producers and all residents of Kythera who wish to cultivate and enjoy the deliciousness of their fruits!
With collective effort and the contribution of everyone, the rare and valuable genetic material of Kythera's cultivated plants - the result of hundreds of years of selection by farmers - can be protected, thus contributing to the dissemination of local varieties to future generations. By preserving the genetic material, the biodiversity and the agri-food future of the island is protected and preserved.
If you are interested in offering or conserving local varieties, you can contact the K.I.P.A. through which you will become an important link in the conservation chain!
Email: kipa.idrima@gmail.com & info@kipa-foundation.org,
tel: 27360 37006 & 210383 2806
Read more:
https://kipa-foundation.org/kytherace-ta-kythira-apektisan-ti-diki-toys-trapeza-sporon/
New national marine park including our islands of Kythera & Antikythera
The Ministry of Environment announced on 29 December the approval of the special environmental studies for the new national marine parks in the southern Aegean and the Ionian Sea. The two new national parks, whose establishment will be completed once the relevant legal texts have been approved by the Council of State (CoE), will create two very extensive marine protected areas where restrictions will be placed on fishing and other human development activities in order to preserve and restore their unique biodiversity.
Also, for the better management and supervision of the two national parks, new branches of OFYPEKA (the organisation responsible for protected areas) will be created in Milos and Amorgos for the South Aegean Park, and in Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Kythera for the Ionian Park.
The establishment of marine parks, part of the Greek moat, which includes the sea of our islands, is without doubt the most important move for the protection of the environment that has been made in our country in the last two decades. KIPA is particularly pleased with these developments, as the Foundation made efforts in the past to have the western coast of Kythera declared protected under the presidency of our late founder.
Support the actions of the K.I.P.A.
