ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA

ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA (ELGO – DIMITRA)

ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA is the national body responsible for agricultural research and technology in Greece, supervised and financed, more than 51%, by the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development & Food. ELGO – DIMITRA with its 300 Research scientists spread in its Research Institutes and Stations throughout Greece is also in charge of research for technological improvement and development in agricultural, forest and fish production. It is also concerned with topics of veterinary, management of marine resources, soil science, land reclamation, processing and preservation of agricultural products.

ELGO-DIMITRA is participating in the LIFE LULUCF ATLAS project with two institutes:

1. The Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (IMFE)

The Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (IMFE) was established in Athens, Greece, in 1929 as “Forest Research Institute of Athens (FRIA)” and was the research arm of the Greek Forest Service. In its more than 90 years of operation, the Institute has produced excellent research always focusing on the research needs of the practicing foresters of the Forest Service. In 1989 the Institute was integrated into the National Agricultural Research Foundation (NAGREF) and its official title became “Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems and Forest Products Technology”. In 2011 NAGREF was merged with three other organizations of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food forming the ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA to which the Institute now belongs. The name of the Institute was shortened to “Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems” (IMFE). IMFE’s main research interests include Forest management and forest economics, Silviculture and forest genetics, Forest soils and biogeochemistry, Forest protection and forest fires, Landscape architecture, Forest ecology, Forest hydrology, Forest Meteorology and Climatology, Biodiversity, Science and technology of wood, Forest Entomology, Tree Physiology and Forest apiculture. Currently, the institute is involved in numerous national and international research projects focused in Forest Research, which are supported by 14 Researchers, as well as special scientists, technical and administrative staff and non-permanent personnel. As a previous part of the Hellenic Forest Service, IMFE maintains close collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Environment (Directorate General of Forests and Forest Environment) and also with the regional Forest authorities of Greece.

IMFE has profound experience on the implementation of LIFE projects. Indicatively, the Institute has recently participated in the implementation of the following on-going projects: LIFE17 NAT/GR/000511-LIFE PRIMED: Restoration, management and valorisation of PRIority habitats of MEDiterranean coastal areas, LIFE17 GIC/GR/000029 – LIFE GrIn: Promoting urban integration of GReen INfrastructure to improve climate governance in cities.

2. The Forest Research Institute (FRI)

The Forest Research Institute (FRI), established in 1963, is one of the two multi-disciplinary institutes of ELGO-DIMITRA (and Greece as a whole) that promotes through research, consultation, and knowledge dissemination the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems such as forests and rangelands and the preservation and enhancement of plant and wildlife resources for the benefit of people and nature. With 20 researchers, as well as technicians, administrative staff and non-permanent personnel (young researchers and PhD and master students), the FRI is involved in numerous projects funded by the State, the European Union, bilateral national co-operations and the private sector and has the necessary administrative capacity for the financial management of large projects. Furthermore, FRI advises the Greek government and regional forestry administration on forest policy issues and maintains close collaborations with national forestry/agroforestry end-users.