GNHM – EKBY – gnhm.gr , https://ekby.gr/

The Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY, by its Greek initials) has its roots in The Goulandris Natural History Museum (GNHM) and was established in 1991, Thermi, Thessaloniki. It was the result of a coordinated effort by GNHM, European Commission, WWF and the Greek Ministry for the Environment. EKBY’s overall objective is to promote the sustainability of renewable natural resources in Greece and in the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean region. EKBY’s main fields of action are:

• design of and support in natural areas’ management
• inventories and monitoring
• applied research
• geospatial data and information systems
• nature interpretation, sustainable tourism development and infrastructure design
• environmental education and training
• cooperation at national and EU level

Key Actions:

• 1994 – The first inventory of wetlands in Greece
• 2020 – mapping of wetlands, through remote sensing in mainland Greece (1,383 wetlands, >200,000 ha) within and outside Natura 2000 protected areas
• 2024 – mapping of island wetlands
• Establishment of the Natura 2000 network in Greece and the first management plans
• Coordinator (scientific and technical) of the two national monitoring efforts (2014-2016 and 2022-2025) for the assessment of conservation condition of habitat types and species of Community and National Interest
• Drafts and submits the National Reports under art. 17 of the Habitats Directive and art. 12 of the Birds Directive (since 2007)
• LIFE EL-BIOS, the first National Biodiversity Information System of Greece, to facilitate monitoring, conservation and management of biodiversity