A volunteer-led reforestation effort will take place in the burned areas of Parnitha on Sunday, March 30.

In honor of World Forest Day, the Chatzigakis Foundation is joining forces with the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment and the Municipality of Acharnes to organize the 2025 Day of Giving and Inclusion.

On Sunday, March 30, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, more than 150 volunteers—including students, educators, social workers, and individuals with disabilities—will gather in Parnitha for a series of hands-on activities. The event will begin at the Agia Triada Forest Nursery and continue with an open reforestation initiative in a burned area of the region.

The goal is to promote collective environmental action, solidarity, and inclusivity.

A Day of Giving and Inclusion

The overarching aim of the Day of Giving and Inclusion is to cultivate environmentally active communities.

Specifically, the initiative seeks to provide experiential learning about the journey from a single seed to an entire forest. It highlights the importance of collaboration and emphasizes that forest care is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time effort. Long-term sustainability requires continuous maintenance efforts, beginning with forest nurseries and extending into broader conservation strategies.

The Importance of Forests

“Healthy forests are essential for people and the planet. They act as natural filters, providing clean air and water while serving as havens of biodiversity. They help regulate our climate by influencing rainfall patterns, cooling urban areas, and absorbing one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, forests provide livelihoods, medicine, food, and shelter for many communities and Indigenous peoples,” states António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The importance of protecting forests becomes even clearer when considering that approximately 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed each year. This devastation is largely driven by human activities, including unsustainable consumption and production patterns, deforestation, wildfires, and overexploitation of natural resources.

Beyond their environmental benefits, healthy forests also provide food, fuel, income, and employment while enhancing soil fertility, safeguarding water resources, and supporting biodiversity.

Forests play a crucial role in the survival of communities, particularly Indigenous populations, and are vital in combating the climate crisis by storing carbon. They serve as natural filters, purifying air and water, and are the source of numerous medicinal raw materials. Protecting and restoring forests is essential for a sustainable future.