Profile
Background
“CALLISTO” is an Environmental NGO (a civil, not-for-profit society), which was founded in Thessaloniki, Greece, in July 2004, by scientists with great experience in environmental issues. The organisation’s main objective is the protection of the environment as a public- collective commodity, as well as the lobbying as far as decision making on natural environment and human life quality issues is concerned.
Main activities of CALLISTO include:
- Conservation of biodiversity and of areas of high natural and aesthetic value, with emphasis on mountainous ecosystems and forests in Greece, the Balkans and other neighbouring countries.
- Study, conservation and management of wild fauna populations, especially of large carnivores (bear, wolf, lynx, jackal) that inhabit the above areas.
- Elaboration and implementation of projects for the protection and management of wildlife and the natural environment.
- Information, awareness raising, and activation of the public for imposing control on the decision-making centres regarding environmental issues.
- Development of environmental education and training programs.
- Development of voluntarism to serve conservation actions.
- Support for the establishment and operation of Protected Areas and Ecological Networks, in order to preserve biodiversity, as well as the natural and cultural heritage.
- Development of scientific research and its applications as well as building national, trans-Balkan and international cooperation and networking for the above purposes
International and Trans-border Cooperations
Recognising the importance of international and trans-border cooperations, Callisto participates in regional and international organisations and networks:
- In the Balkan Network for the Conservation of Large Carnivores, which brings together a variety of experts and Environmental Organisations in Greece and the Balkans.
- In the European Initiative for the Conservation of Large Carnivores (LCIE) in which representatives of national and international organisations and NGOs, researchers and institutes from 29 European countries participate.
Callisto is representing the Greek environmental NGOs both in the Managing Authority of Rhodope Mountainous Range, and the MA of North Pindos (together with other NGOs).
Furthermore, dr. G. Mertzanis is a member of the Core Group of Large Carnivores Initiative for Europe (LCIE/IUCN), of IUCN/ SSC Bear Specialist Group, of the International Association on Bear Research and Management (IBA) and the European Brown Bear Expert Team.
Completed projects
2005
- “Development of Cooperation on environmental issues through the Youth Programme” in the framework of the European Programme YOUTH”. This project realised in the Protected Area of the Rhodope Mountain Range in July 2005 and was funded by the Greek General Secretariat for Youth.
- “Monitoring and assessment of the impact on wolves (Canis lupus) from the construction of a new railway line between Lianokladi & Domokos, Central Greece”. The implementation of this project was completed on April 2006. The aim of the project was the minimisation of the impacts of the construction and operation of the new railway in the area. For this work CALLISTO was subcontracted by a consortium of environmental studies offices. The source of financing: ERGA OSE S.A., a state owned construction company, which is responsible for all technical works concerning development of the railway network in Greece.
- “Training for the development of international cooperation in environmental issues” in the framework of the European Programme YOUTH”. This project realised in Protected Areas of Gramos and Voio Mountain Ranges, Prefecture of Kastoria, Region of Western Macedonia, in July 2006. It was funded by the Greek General Secretariat of Youth and it involved the training of young people from 4 countries (Greece, Albania, FYROM and Bulgaria).
- “Twining” Project “Capacity building of staff members of the NGO ERINA with assistance provided by the Greek NGO CALLISTO”. This project, financed by EC/DG Environment, Directorate E.3 “Enlargement and Neighbouring Countries”, lasted from December 2005 to October 2006 concerning consultancy services to the NGO ERINA, based in Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
- “Guidelines for Population Level Management Plans for Large Carnivores in Europe”: The “Instituto di Ecologia Applicata”, Rome, Italy, granted by EC/DG ENV for the implementation of this project. Callisto contributed to the preparation of the aforementioned guidelines, concerning particularly the Management Plans for Large Carnivores in the South-Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The project was completed in March 2007.
- “Cultural Egnatia”: The Hellenic Ministry of Culture (beneficiary of a project in the framework of the European Programme “Information Society”) offered a contract to “Callisto”, in order to contribute to the development of a bilingual website including information for the cultural heritage, the natural environment and the today’s culture of the areas the highway connects. The work of “Callisto” (collection of scientific data, preparation of texts and development of a database regarding sites of environmental interest along the Egnatia Highway) was completed on April 2007.
- “Production of a kit of school education materials about wolves (Canis lupus)”. The activity was performed as a consultancy service one in the framework of the LIFE-Nature Project “Improving Coexistence of Large Carnivores and Agriculture in South Europe” – COEX, N. LIFE04NAT/IT/000144, carried out by the Istituto di Ecologia Applicata (IEA) and co-financed by EU. Callisto was responsible for designing the educational material which would be used in 6 countries of South Europe (Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Croatia and Greece). The project was completed in October 2007.
- PHARE Project: “Development of Cross-Border Cooperation as a Basis for Effective Conservation of Brown Bear Population and Habitats in Western Rhodope Region”. The project was about the cross-border cooperation between Bulgarian and Greek Local Authorities and NGOs for the conservation of the populations and habitats of the brown bear in Western Europe. The project was funded by the European Project PHARE and was completed in December 2007.
- “Awareness Raising and Information Campaign for the Mountain Ecosystems and Large Carnivores in the Transborder Area of Rhodope”. Implementation period: November 2005 – March 2008. The project is funded by 75% by the EC (European Initiative INTERREG III A, Greece/Bulgaria) and 25% by the Greek Government.
- “Monitoring and assessment of Egnatia Highway’s construction and operation impact on large mammals and their habitats in the area between Panagia and Grevena (segment 4.1)” (2006-2008): CALLISTO is responsible for the co-ordination of this project, where another NGO (ARCTUROS) participates also. It has also undertaken the task of monitoring and assessing the impact on large carnivores. For the necessary works, in Grevena Prefecture, Northern Pindos Mountain Range, CALLISTO was subcontracted by the state owned EGNATIA ODOS S.A. Construction (sources of financing: Greek Government - Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Land Planning & Public Works, and European Commission - EC/DG Region).
- “Actions for Increasing Employment with active participation of NGOs”. A twelve-month programme funded by the European Social Fund and the Greek Ministry for Employment and Social Protection. In the framework of this programme CALLISTO implements the following Action Plans: (1) «Networking of Teachers, Pupils and Parents for promoting Environmental Awareness Raising, in Municipality of Eleftherio-Kordelio, Prefecture of Thessaloniki», (2) «Awareness Raising and Application of Prevention Measures in Areas Recently Decolonized by Brown Bear», (3) «Information of Animal Breeders and Visitors on Implementation of Management Actions for Minimizing Conflicts between Large Carnivores and Humans in the Protected Area of Rhodope Mountain Range», (4) «Awareness Raising Campaign with participation of Volunteers for Mountain Ecosystems of the Kastoria Prefecture, NW Greece» and (5) «Intervention actions for Protection of Riparian Ecosystems around Pineios River, Thessaly».
- “Monitoring and assessment of Egnatia Highway’s Construction Impact on Large Mammals and their Habitats in the Area between the East Opening of the Metsovo Tunnel and the Entrance of the Panagia Tunnel - segment 3.5.1/2 of the Egnatia Highway” (2007-2008): For the necessary works, CALLISTO was subcontracted by the state owned EGNATIA ODOS S.A. Construction (sources of financing: Greek Government - Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Land Planning & Public Works, and European Commission - EC/DG Region).
- “Awareness Raising Campaign for Conservation of Large Carnivores in Greece and their Coexistence with Humans” (2007-2008): A fourteen-month project, approved in the framework of the Operational Programme “Environment” (EPPER III) financed by the EC (75%) and the Greek Government (25%). Main actions of this project include printing information material, organization of public events and meetings, and production of a 50’ minutes video film, covering topics such as prevention of damages made by large carnivores on agriculture, and mitigation measures for minimising the impact of roads on large carnivores.
- “Master Plan for minimization of the habitats fragmentation caused by road construction and accompanying works”: CALLISTO won a contract from the Hellenic Ministry for Environment, Land Planning and Public Works, after a relevant public tender. The study, which should be completed in 2008, has been included in the Measure “Technical Assistance” of the Operational Programme “Environment 2000-2006”, and will contribute substantially to the development of technical standards for minimization of the impact of highways on wildlife, especially mammals.
- “Application of Environmental Education Programmes in the Rhodope Mountain Range Protected Area”: CALLISTO is undertaking the task to design and apply Environmental Education Programmes in the area. The “Management Authority of the Rhodope Mountain Range Protected Area” has agreed to cooperate with CALLISTO on the implementation of this project in situ, by the end of summer 2008.
- “Institutional entrenchment and legal status for the Protected Areas in the Balkans and in the European-wide networks”: Organisation of a one-week international seminar on the “Legal and Institutional status of the Protected Areas and the Management Authorities established by the Balkan states”. Participants of the seminar will be fifty (50) young people that will be selected by nine (9) organisations from seven (7) Balkan countries: Greece (“Callisto” NGO), Bulgaria ( “Rhodope- a mountain for everyone” NGO, EcoArk NGO and “Agrolink” Association), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (“Erina” - Journalists’ Legal Environmental Center), Albania (EDEN - Environmental Center for Development, Education and Networking), Bosnia & Herzegovina (“Livno” Youth Center), Croatia (Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb), and Serbia (Young Researchers of Serbia). The seminar is scheduled for March 2008, while its provisional cost will be covered by the grant provided to “Callisto” by the European Programme “YOUTH”, Action 3.1.2.