For the second time, the Athanasios K. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation and the Hellenic Armed Forces carried out coordinated environmental actions on the island of Lesvos, under the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Foundation and the Ministry of National Defence.

The two-day initiative, held on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 June, mobilized teams composed of Foundation staff and more than 300 Armed Forces volunteers, with the support of the North Aegean Region, the Municipalities of West Lesvos and Mytilene, the Hellenic Rescue Team, and the University of the Aegean. In total, 11 coastal clean-ups were conducted at key sites including Lagada, Tokmakia, Aspropotamos, Lapsarna, Tamaronisia, Tsimkhranda, Finikodasos, PPC-Kalamaris, Historic-Lasia, Epano Skala, and Kampos. Additionally, two underwater clean-ups were carried out at PPC-Kalamaris and Lagada.

Underwater operations were supported by volunteer divers from the Armed Forces, municipal teams, the Rescue Team, and the University of the Aegean.

All collected waste was systematically weighed and documented to assess the nature and scale of coastal pollution. In total, 6.5 tonnes of debris were removed, comprising thousands of plastic items, single-use plastics, ropes, wooden pallets, and boat remnants.

A key contributor to the operation was the Athanasios K. Laskaridis Foundation’s vessel Typhonas, which operates year-round to clean remote and inaccessible coastlines. The crew and the vessel’s equipment played a vital role in the overall success of the initiative.

This joint action stands as both a collective environmental intervention and a symbolic gesture of cooperation. It highlights the continuing partnership between the Ministry of National Defence and the Athanasios K. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, reaffirming their shared commitment to environmental stewardship, the restoration of Lesvos’ natural heritage, and the engagement of local communities in sustainability efforts.