The required works for the restoration of the forest landscape, the palace gardens and the cemetery in the former royal estate of Tatoi were presented by the Minister of Culture, Mrs. Lina Mendoni and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis, in a joint press conference held on Tuesday February 6, in the auditorium of the National Gallery.
Four studies were presented, two from each ministry, with the object of the actions of their competence concerning the implementation of the overall project in Tatoi.
The Ministry of Culture is responsible for the restoration of the gardens of the Palace, as well as for the work on the church of the Resurrection and in the Paleokastro hill cemetery in the Tatoi estate.
The relevant studies for these projects were implemented with the sponsorship of the Civil Non-Profit Society of Cultural and Public Benefit Project “AEGEAS” of Athanasios and Marina Martinou.
The presentations of these studies were carried out by Maria Mertzani, Head of the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments and the landscape architect and scientific associate of the Ministry of Culture Elli Pangalou.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy, is responsible for the implementation of projects related to the restoration of the forest ecosystem, as well as the restoration of vegetation and the promotion of the cemetery.
The presentations of these studies and actions were carried out by the Head of the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment, Mr. Evangelos Goudoufa and by the architect and scientific manager of the second project, Mr. Thomas Doxiadis.
The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said:
“Restoration and regeneration projects have been systematically progressing over the last five years at the former royal estate of Tatoi, within a specific schedule. They are part of the integrated planning promoted by the government for the creation of a single and multi-thematic peri-urban green space, culture and recreation that will fully utilize its cultural and social development potential, for the benefit of the citizens of Attica and our national economy. An estate abandoned for decades, with a total area of 42,000 acres, consisting of a historical core of 1,600 acres and approximately 1,200 acres of crops, is protected and revived as a new pole of multiple activities of culture, historical memory, recreation, education, environmental education and knowledge . Our common goal, with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, is to promote the restoration and regeneration of the estate through environmentally friendly infrastructure and interventions within the protected natural landscape. For all categories of citizens, they will make it and keep it attractive throughout the year. At the same time, it will respect and protect its historic character and natural environment. The total program currently being carried out by the Ministry of Culture exceeds 60,000,000 euros and concerns the restoration and the performance of new uses, in the buildings and monuments of the estate. The restoration of the palace gardens is completed with our intervention in the Palace building and the creation of a model Museum. Accordingly, the maintenance and promotion of the Church of the Resurrection and the burial monuments completes the intervention of the Ministry of the Interior. I thank “AEGEAS” for the sponsorship, the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the researchers and for the excellent quality of the implementation of the projects. In the end, it is a joint effort of the two ministries and the government, that Tatoi be restored in a few years to the residents of Attica and to all visitors to Attica. Once again I want to thank Theodoros Skylakakis because if he hadn’t been the one who promoted to the Recovery and Resilience Fund the basic financing of Tatoio, it is certain that the Ministry of Culture would not be at the level it is”.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Thodoros Skylakakis, emphasized:
“With the aim of fully restoring the forest landscape in Tatoi, some of the coordinated initiatives we are implementing have already borne fruit, while at the same time we are launching a series of important , additional actions. After the fire in August 2021 in the Parnitha Forest, i.e. in the wider area of Tatoi, we have now entered the regeneration phase and where necessary we intervene with artificial reforestation, in selected areas. Among other things, the Forest Service has already implemented anti-corrosion soil protection projects, as well as maintenance of the forest road network. Utilizing the resources of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, we implement forest fire prevention projects, with the creation of sheltered, fireproof zones and the removal of logging residues, while at the same time initiatives to remove standing burnt wood are also taking place. Important actions in this direction are carried out through the National Reforestation Plan – Forest Protection Program – Anti NERO II, which concerns the fire protection of forest areas. In this context, works of special forestry projects are included for the cleaning of forests and forest lands, as well as for the maintenance of the forest, road network and fire protection zones. At the same time, especially with regard to the cemetery of the Tatoi estate, which is part of this historical site, we aim to reconstruct the natural environment. Our goal is the restoration of historical landmarks, the improvement of fire protection conditions, through manipulation of the vegetation and the highlighting of the cemetery’s monuments. The ‘new Tatoi’, as it will be formed with the initiatives we are taking at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, will be a ‘breathing’ project for our country, as it combines the promotion of our cultural heritage, with the sustainable management of the environment and gentle and qualitative tourism development”.
