Updated on May 21, 2025
Our impressions from Iceland
The course ...
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/143MmWnk6OVb04nmunWU5UIb0uDRmppLHC_6FratvQhQ/edit?usp=sharing
The school system ...
Updated on April 30, 2025
Forest restoration
Forest restoration is when we help forests get healthy again.
How Do We Help Forests Grow Again?
seeds
There are many ways to help forests become healthy. Sometimes, just leaving a forest alone is enough.
This helps seeds grow and new trees appear (=εμφανίζονται) naturally over time.
But other times, forests need more help. This is especially true for forests that have been hurt by wildfires, logging (=cutting down trees), farming, and other things people do.
plant a tree
In these cases, we might need to plant young trees or seeds from different native plants (=αυτοφυή φυτά, plants that grow naturally in a place) to help the forest grow strong and healthy again.
Here are some ways we can help a forest become healthy again:
Choosing the Right Trees
soil
- Some trees grow better in certain places. We pick trees that are best for the climate, soil, and animals that live in the place to make sure the forest grows strong.
getting rid of
Getting Rid of Bad Plants- Sometimes, there are plants that don’t belong (=δεν ανήκουν) in the forest and can hurt the good plants and trees. We can take these bad plants out to help the forest stay healthy.
Protecting (=προστατεύοντας, keeping safe) streams and rivers
- By planting trees around rivers and streams, we help keep the water clean and make sure animals have a place to live.
Fixing (=διορθώνοντας) the soil
- Healthy soil is super important for trees to grow. We can help by adding things like compost (plant food) to make the soil better.
Creating canopy gaps
canopy gap
Canopy gaps are open spaces in the trees. These spaces help rare plants and trees to grow back.
checking the forest
Watching and checking the forest
- We don’t just plant trees and walk away. We check how the forest is doing to make sure it’s healthy and growing. If something’s wrong, we can fix (=διορθώνω, repair) it.
- Everyone can help! It’s important for people who live near the forest to join in and help take care of it, so that the forest can stay healthy for a long time.
Adapted from:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/michigan/stories-in-michigan/forest-restoration/
Now think about and answer the following questions in your notebook:
1. Why is it important to choose the right trees for a forest?
2. Why should we get rid of bad plants?
3. Why are canopy gaps important?
4. Why is it necessary to keep checking on the forest after planting trees?
Updated on May 27, 2025
Give forest a helping hand
Here is the link to a Canva poster with forest restoration practices for our campaign!
And here is the poster for the Global Action Days 2025!
Posted on April 21, 2025
The wonder of Greek forests
Happy Easter!
Here is your Google Earth project on Greek forest parks. It is amazing!
Well done, everyone! Keep up the great work and keep learning!
https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1btXo4Ccby4xblsLpGccncUOCpUkp9vMH?usp=sharing
You can 'fly' from one forest to the next clicking Slide View ("Προβολή διαφανειών")! Enjoy your work!
Updated on April 21, 2025
Quizzes on Saving Greece’s forests
Read the post about the threats Greek forests face and do the following quiz ...
Now, study the words in the worksheet and in the text and do the following vocabulary quizzes ...
Updated on April 6, 2025
Saving Greece’s Forests: The Battle Against Fires, Deforestation and Climate Change
Forests in Greece face many problems that threaten their survival (=επιβίωση).
Wildfires
Wildfires are one of the biggest dangers for Greece’s forests. They can start quickly in hot, dry weather and spread (=εξαπλώνονται) fast, especially when people aren’t careful.
The griffon vulture
In 2023, a huge wildfire happened in the Dadia Forest, where some of Europe’s rarest animals live, like the griffon vulture. The fire burned many trees and plants, hurting the habitats of many animals.
Illegal Logging and Deforestation
Some people cut down trees in forests without permission (=άδεια), which is called illegal (=παράνομη, against the law) logging. This can hurt (=βλάπτει) the forest by destroying (=καταστρέφοντας) habitats for animals and plants.
Cutting Down Trees for Farms: In some areas of Greece, people clear forests for farms, like olive groves. This can damage (=destroy) the land, hurt wildlife, and reduce (=μειώνει) the number of trees that help clean the air.
Cutting down trees for farms ...
Illegal Building:
In many places, people build houses or businesses on land where they shouldn’t. This can be dangerous because it makes it harder for firefighters to stop fires or for animals to find homes.
Climate Change
Climate change means that the Earth is getting hotter, and this causes problems for forests. The weather is changing in ways that make forests more at risk for fires and other dangers.
Drought (=ξηρασία) and Heatwaves (=καύσωνας): In Greece, the weather has become hotter and drier, which makes it harder for trees to survive. This makes them more likely to get sick or catch fire.
Forest Fragmentation
Forests are sometimes broken into smaller pieces because of roads, farms or buildings. This can be bad for the animals and plants living there because they don’t have enough space to survive.
Overgrazing
When animals graze (=βόσκουν) too much in a forest area, they can damage vegetation and prevent the growth of new plants.
In Greece, this is a problem, especially in the mountains and forests where people let their animals, like goats and sheep, graze free.
Updated on March 27, 2025
