Greece's mountainous regions, which cover nearly 80% of its land, are a defining feature of the country’s geography. Dominated by ranges such as the Pindus, often referred to as the "spine of Greece," and the towering Mount Olympus, home to ancient myth and legend, these mountains form a rugged landscape of deep gorges, high peaks, and secluded villages. The diversity in elevation creates microclimates that support unique flora and fauna, making the regions rich in biodiversity and ideal for activities like hiking, climbing, and eco-tourism.
Yet, despite their natural beauty and historical significance, these mountainous areas have long been marginalised. Many communities, tucked into remote valleys or perched on steep hillsides, face significant challenges due to geographic isolation. The steep, rocky terrain complicates access to essential services like healthcare, education, and transportation infrastructure. Economic activities, once dominated by farming and livestock, have dwindled, forcing younger generations to migrate to urban centres in search of better opportunities. This depopulation has deepened the marginalisation, as local economies shrink and investment in public services wanes. While tourism has begun to offer some economic hope, the benefits often don’t reach the most isolated communities, leaving many mountain regions struggling with poverty and underdevelopment in an otherwise modernising Greece.
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Meet MARGISTAR's Greek Members
Dr Despina Dimelli
Technical University of CreteDespina Dimelli is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the School of Architecture of the Technical University of Crete. She has been a consultant of the General Secretariat of the Urban and Regional Planning in the Ministry of Environment, and she has been a member of Scientific committees as the Urban and Regional reform committee, the committee for Inofita industrial development, the National Metropolitan planning council (vice-president), e.tc. She participates in scientific committees of national and international conferences, and she is a reviewer in national and international scientific journals. She participates in international (HORIZON2020, COST E.TC) and national research programs.
Dr Irene Christoforidi
Hellenic Mediterranean UniversityIrene Christoforidi is a Postdoc Researcher and Head of the Plant Production Department of the Experimental Farm, Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU). She is an Agronomist with MSc in Applied Science and Technology in Agricultural Production and a PhD from Department of Agriculture, HMU. Her research area is Mediterranean native plants and sustainable crop production, abiotic plant stress, regenerative agriculture, ecosystem services and restoration, erosion and land cover changes. She participates as Researcher in European projects and collaborations. She coordinates several workshops and Ecosystem Restoration Living Labs for adults and children.
Prof Apostolos Kyriazopoulos
Democritus University of ThraceMs Katerina Shelagh Boucoyannis
National Metsovious UniversityKaterina-Shelagh Boucoyannis is a postgraduate student in Environment and Development at the School of Rural and Surveying Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. She holds an Integrated Masters in Architectural Engineering from the same University. Her research focuses on the interconnectedness of climate and social justice, design for autonomy and post-growth. She has conducted research as a pre-doctoral research fellow at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador in Quito and the University of the Balearic Islands.
Dr Petros Tsioras
Aristotle University of ThessalonikiPetros Tsioras is an Assistant Professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, working on forest operations, ergonomics and the socioeconomic apects of employment in the forest sector.
Mr Theo Zacharis
Greek Scientists SocietyDr Tatjana Ćirković-Mitrović is Ph.D. in Forestry, Senior Research Associate at the Department of Forest Establishment, Silviculture and Ecology at the Institute of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia. She is also Assistant Director at the Institute of Forestry, Head of Research Laboratory and Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Sustainable Forestry published by the Institute of Forestry. She is engaged in the research in the field of forest ecology, afforestation, nursery production
