The information event for residents and targeted groups for the promotion of the Asterousia hiking trails network of the Municipality of Gortyna was held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Polykentro of the Municipality of Heraklion.
The event began with a welcome by the General Manager of ETAM S.A., Ms. Chryssa Pagalou, who coordinated the event and who invited the Mayor of Gortyna, Mr. Michalis Kokolakis, for a short greeting. The Mayor underlined the importance of the “Asterousia Trails” project for the promotion of Asterousia, the protection of the natural environment, the development of nature-loving tourism and the generally sustainable development of the region. The Municipality of Gortyna was also represented by both the General Secretary and worthy executives of the Municipality, thus showing its universal interest in the project in question.
This was followed by the presentation of Ms. Theano Vrentzou, President of the Asterousia Protection Association and the Asterousia Local Management Committee (T.E.D.A.), on the topic of the Asterousia UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the importance of the UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) program, to which the region has been affiliated since 2020. In her presentation, she emphasized the importance of the protection and sustainable development of the region, the coexistence of man and nature, the support of the people who remain and are active in Asterousia, as well as the improvement of the infrastructure and the daily lives of the residents. At the same time, he briefly referred to the value of the new layout and passage of the European path E4 that will be made to Asterousia, as well as to the Cooperation Agreement for the adaptation of Asterousia to climate change, with the main axes being targeted tree planting, combating desertification and protecting the Biosphere Reserve.
Then, Dr. Anna Kagiampaki, Head of the Environment and Spatial Planning Directorate of the Region of Crete, highlighted the unique natural environment of Asterousia. In her presentation, she referred to the exceptional ecological wealth of the area, which includes important terrestrial and marine ecosystems, Natura 2000 protected areas, canyons, ridges, caves, beaches and important marine biotopes of the South Cretan Sea. Particular emphasis was placed on the biodiversity of Asterousia, where more than 1,800 plant species are recorded, many of which are endemic, as well as important protected fauna species, such as the Egyptian Vulture, the Cretan Wildcat, the Mediterranean Seal, the Caretta caretta and various species of dolphins and cetaceans. At the same time, she underlined the great ecological value of the treeless mountainous landscapes of Asterousia and the timeless relationship between man and nature, which has shaped a special natural and cultural landscape with significant value for Crete and the Mediterranean.
Dr. Chryssa Pagalou, General Manager of ETAM S.A., presented the project “Asterousia Trails”, which is implemented on behalf of the Municipality of Gortyna by the ETAM S.A. association. – Georgios Petrakis, with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund and the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. As he stated, the aim of the project is to create a sustainable, modern and high-quality network of 11 signposted hiking trails in Asterousia, with a total length of 40.6 km, which will contribute to the protection and promotion of the natural and cultural wealth of the area. The main actions of the project were also presented, such as improving the accessibility of the trails, marking and mapping, small technical works, actions to promote and highlight the trails, as well as information and awareness-raising actions.
The event concluded with a particularly lively and substantive discussion between the speakers and the audience, in which there was a strong presence of members of the mountaineering and nature-loving community. The participants showed great interest in the project, raising questions and expressing concerns regarding issues of hiking safety and mountain rescue, the impacts of free grazing and overgrazing on the landscape, as well as the risk of alteration of Asterousia from the possible installation of Industrial Renewable Energy Sources (IRES). At the same time, the need for hiking trails to acquire appropriate infrastructure was highlighted, while the importance of both the creation of new routes and the revival of old paths that historically connected the settlements of the area was underlined.
Source: asterousiatrails.com