The Alliance
WHO WE ARE
The Greek Wildlife Alliance is a unique collaborative initiative of 11 environmental Non-Governmental Organizations, for the effective protection of the Greece’ s iconic species.
By combining the experience and expertise of its member organizations, the Alliance constitutes a strong partnership with the capacity to amplify the results of individual efforts.
In this way, Greek environmental NGOs and international NGOs working in Greece, which have played for decades a key role in advancing species’ and habitats’ conservation, are now expanding their actions and magnifying their impact.
OUR VISION
We envision the well-being of wildlife and humans.
With the Greek Wildlife Alliance as our vehicle, we join forces and create a collaboration to conserve our natural wealth for future generations. Utilizing our collective knowledge and experience, we strive alongside society to protect Greece’s biodiversity. We work together and maximize the impact of our actions.
OUR GOALS
The Greek Wildlife Alliance is governed by collectively prioritized values and goals. In this context, the programs implemented within its framework serve one or more of the following thematic goals:
#1 Increase the management effectiveness of terrestrial and marine protected areas
with a focus on targeted species hotspots- and the inclusion of key conservation measures in all relevant management plans.
#2 Improve wildlife stewardship and rehabilitation:
facilitate and increase stakeholder engagement in the planning and implementation of management activities, especially in protected areas.
#3 Promote human-wildlife coexistence
with collective and collaborative actions across communities, authorities, and the business sector to co-create and implement solutions.
#4 Mitigate anthropogenic threats to species
including unintentional catches in fisheries, wildlife trade etc. Increase the integration between economic and business sectors, and species’ conservation.
#5 Increase knowledge in applied research
to promote assessment of threats and the development of effective conservation measures, especially for less known species.
Member Organizations
The 11 member organizations of the Greek Wildlife Alliance are:
ANIMA – HELLENIC WILDLIFE CARE ASSOCIATION, founded in 2005, has as its main activity the nursing, rehabilitation and release of injured, sick or orphaned wild animals, in suitable habitats. Today, it is the largest organization in Greece, for wildlife care and rehabilitation. Since its establishment, ANIMA has cared for more than 60,000 wild animals, with the number of cases received at the Wildlife Care Centre increasing significantly every year.
As part of its activities and through its Citizen Science program, ANIMA collects data on incidents of dead or injured wild animals throughout Greece. It also carries out autopsies and collects samples for laboratory analyses for the detection of deadly infectious agents, as well as histopathological examinations of birds and large carnivorous mammals.
Learn more about the CAUSES AND AGENTS OF DEATH, INJURY AND DISEASE IN WILDLIFE program, implemented by ANIMA.
Information about the organization: www.wild-anima.gr
ARCHELON – The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece is a non-profit association founded in 1983 with the aim of studying and protecting sea turtles and their habitats. ARCHELON seeks the elimination of the threats to sea turtles’ survival (poaching, accidental capture and death in fishing gear, plastic litter, tourism, climate change) by designing and implementing projects and actions that combine scientific work with volunteering service, aiming to mobilize society through awareness and education, for a better and sustainable planet.
Learn more about the RAPID ASSESSMENTS OF THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SEA TURTLE NESTING SITES IN GREECE project implemented by ARCHELON.
Information about the organization: www.archelon.gr
The Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife Greece (HOS) is an environmental Not for Profit, Non-Governmental Organization, that aims to protect wild birds and their habitats in Greece. Since 1982, the HOS strives to ensure that humans and birds can share a common future.
The organization’s work includes conservation and research activities, public awareness and education activities, volunteer and birding tourism activities, as well as direct action on urgent issues of environmental law breach.
The HOS is a partner of BirdLife International since 1994, thus actively contributing to the largest conservation network of the world, together with 120 partners globally.
The HOS has received an award of excellence from the Academy of Athens, as well as several awards by the European Commission.
Learn more about the ANTIPOISON STAKEHOLDER NETWORK IN EPIRUS and the SAFEGUARDING ELEONORA’S FALCONS IN GREECE programs implemented by the Hellenic Ornithological Society.
Information about the organization: www.ornithologiki.gr
The Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace (SPBT) is an Environmental, Non-Governmental Organization, active in the Thrace Region, focusing mainly on the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Evros and Rhodope.
The main objective of the organization is the protection of Thracian nature, with emphasis on birds of prey, as indicators of good biodiversity status. The activities of the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace include the operation of a poisoned bait detection team, the study of the cumulative effects of wind farms in Thrace, monitoring of the life of birds of prey, informing students and operating as a host organization for volunteers from foreign countries, within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps.
Learn more about the SECURING THE FUTURE OF VULTURES IN THRACE project, implemented by the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace.
Information about the organization: www.spbt.gr
The Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) is a Greek, Environmental, Not for Profit Organization, founded in 1991 by ten environmental NGOs. The organization’s headquarters are in Laimos, Prespa. The SPP aims to contribute to the conservation of the natural heritage of the cross-border basin of the Prespa lakes, shared by Greece, Albania and North Macedonia.
Its multi-level and award-winning work focuses on the conservation and management of the area’s natural heritage and natural resources, and is based on scientific knowledge and partnerships formed at a local and cross-border level. Through its interventions, it seeks to preserve the ecosystem’s balance, to address threats, promote the area’s identity and to improve the living standards of the local communities, promoting green and sustainable solutions.
Learn more about the PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE REHABILITATION OF AGIOS GERMANOS STREAM project, implemented by the Society for the Protection of Prespa.
Information about the organization: www.spp.gr
Established in 2001, the Hellenic Institute of Speleological Research (HISR) is a Non-Governmental, Not for Profit Organization, dedicated to advancing scientific research, education, public awareness, and the conservation of karst areas and the subterranean environment in Greece.
HISR has engaged in national and international projects, focusing on the study, documentation, database creation, and the conservation of the cave fauna in Greece and the Balkans.
Learn more about the CONSERVATION OF CAVE-DWELLING BATS AND CAVE HABITATS IN GREECE program implemented by the Hellenic Institute of Speleological Research.
Information about the organization: www.inspee.gr
CALLISTO, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society is an Environmental, Civil, Not-for-Profit, Non-Governmental Organization, with long experience in the study, conservation and management of large carnivores in Greece, South Europe and the Balkans.
The organization also supports the establishment and operation of Protected Areas and Ecological Networks, aiming to preserve biodiversity, and the natural and cultural heritage. Most of the projects implemented by the organization concern nature conservation, sustainable development and public awareness raising and information, many of which are international and cross-border in nature.
Learn more about the PROGRAM FOR LARGE CARNIVORES: ACTIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF LARGE CARNIVORES AND THEIR COEXISTENCE WITH HUMANS IN GREECE, implemented by CALLISTO..
Information about the organization: www.callisto.gr
iSea is a Not for Profit, Non-Governmental Organization founded in March 2016, in Greece, with the aim to protect and restore the precious heritage of the aquatic environment by preserving its biodiversity and ensuring its vital functions that contribute to a clean, healthy and productive environment.
The organization’s primary goals are:
1) the protection of aquatic ecosystems through raising awareness and informing society about current environmental problems and good practices to address them
2) the promotion of the adoption of measures and sound policies for the protection of the environment
3) the elaboration and promotion of scientific research, in order to be the basis for sustainable development with the aim of environmental, social and economic prosperity.
The organization is active in 4 main pillars that contribute to the assessment of the state of aquatic ecosystems: Vulnerable species, Citizen Science, Aquatic litter, and Human and Aquatic Ecosystems.
To achieve its goals, iSea utilizes different tools, such as scientific research and environmental education and awareness raising among targeted stakeholder groups.
Learn more about the obSERVING NATURE project implemented by iSea.
Information about the organization: www.isea.com.gr
MEDASSET – Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles is an international Environmental Not for profit Organization working to protect sea turtles in their natural habitats throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Through the implementation of national, European and other international projects, MEDASSET has gained considerable experience in collecting scientific data, formulating research-based recommendations/interventions, advocating for the dissemination of project results, educating children and adults on environmental issues, and implementing awareness activities for the general public, as well as more specific groups, with the aim of changing their behavior. In addition, MEDASSET has developed a solid network of stakeholders related to environmental protection and works closely with the Protected Area Management Units.
Learn more about the CARETTA2 ZAKYNTHOS – REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FISHERIES AND MARINE LITTER ON CARETTA CARETTA SEA TURTLES IN THE MARINE AREA OF ZAKYNTHOS ISLAND, GREECE project, implemented by MEDASSET.
Information about the organization: www.medasset.org
The TETHYS Research Institute is a Non-Profit, Research Organization founded in 1986 to support the protection and conservation of the marine environment through science, public awareness and education, with a focus on large marine vertebrates. The organization’s activities fall into three domains: marine research, aimed at fostering original scientific insights; conservation of the marine environment, primarily entailing the management of human activities and thus inherently a political undertaking; and public awareness initiatives. In addition, TETHYS organizes capacity building initiatives to develop expertise in cetacean research and conservation, and to promote collaboration among researchers and institutes operating in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Learn more about the STRENGTHENING CETACEAN RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN THE HELLENIC TRENCH WITH THE BLUE PANDA VESSEL project, implemented by TETHYS.
Information about the organization: www.tethys.org
WWF is a global network of people, scientists, volunteers and citizens, active in more than 100 countries and supported by more than 5,000,000 citizens, making it one of the largest international organizations working to protect the environment.
WWF’s mission is to conserve biodiversity and maintain climate stability, securing a future where people live in harmony with nature, through:
- The conservation of important natural habitats and species
- The promotion of solutions to reverse the climate crisis
- The reduction of the human footprint from the use of natural resources on Earth
WWF Greece coordinates the “Greek Wildlife Alliance” initiative and implements a number of projects under this initiative.
Learn more about WWF Greece programs:
GREEK NATURE UNKNOWN: SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS
INDENTIFICATION AND MAPPING OF ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS
A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN GREECE
REDUCING BYCATCH AND PROMOTING COEXISTENCE BETWEEN FISHERS AND MARINE MEGAFAUNA
STRENGTHENING CETACEAN RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN THE HELLENIC TRENCH WITH THE BLUE PANDA VESSEL
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF GYAROS MPA
RAPID ASSESSMENTS OF THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SEA TURTLE NESTING SITES IN GREECE
Information about the organization: www.wwf.gr