Help protect Mt Parnitha from fire
In a bid to make up for some of the ground lost due to funding cuts, the Forest Protection Volunteers of Parnitha (EDASA) group has launched a call for volunteers to join them in their efforts to protect one of Attica?s most important and most violated green areas from the threat of forest fires.
?When state funding is reduced, the participation of volunteers becomes imperative,? coordinators Aris Harvalias and Fotis Voyiatzis said in a press release. ?If every one of the 5 million residents of Attica were to dedicate one night over the entire course of the summer to Parnitha they would make its protection a simple matter. Mount Parnitha should concern all of us, not just EDASA,? they said.
The volunteer program, which is operated in collaboration with the Parnitha National Park Authority, the Fire Department and the Parnitha Forest Rangers, includes training in fire detection, warning the relevant authorities and helping firefighters in their efforts. EDASA also participates in reforestation and public awareness campaigns.
In 25 years of operation, EDASA has trained over 3,000 volunteers, warned authorities of 164 forest fires, participated in 28 firefighting efforts and held 191 patrols in the area.
To find out more about EDASA, call its central office (12 Aghiou Constantinou) at 210.520.0680 or log on to www.edasa.gr.
