Hellenic Centre for Marine Research

HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH (HCMR)

The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) is comprised of three
institutes and two aquariums with 180 research staff, 200 technicians and 60
administrative and secretarial staff. The Institute of Oceanography
(HCMR-IO) conducts multidisciplinary (physical, chemical, biological and
geological) marine and coastal research. It has successfully coordinated
and/ or participated in several EU and national RTD projects and
initiatives, including projects studying seagrass integrity, habitat loss
and habitat damage of seagrass meadows of Greece (e.g., MSFD, MAREA-MEDISEH,
4S, Bathysent, EMODNET) and blue carbon (e.g., DRESSAGE, BlueTipS,
LIFE-TRANSFER, MEDVEG), generating extensive datasets on seagrass status and
function as carbon sinks. The Seagrass Ecology Lab of HCMR-IO studies the
distribution and function of seagrass meadows by combining modern field
studies and laboratory experiments using biogeochemical and molecular
techniques. HCMR-IO also includes a Geographical Information Systems and
Remote Sensing Unit conducting spatial analysis, statistics and
visualization of land and marine data, geodatabase design and development
for seascape visualization, cartography and seafloor mapping (bathymetric
and habitat maps), shoreline changes monitoring and analysis, environmental
hazard, vulnerability and risk GIS.

University of Patras

UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS (UPATRAS)

The Department of Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Patras
contributes to the advancement of climate-smart and sustainable agriculture
through climate data analysis, greenhouse gas monitoring, and agro-climatic
modelling. Its research focuses on understanding climate impacts on
agricultural production, assessing future climate risks, and supporting
sustainable water and crop management using high-resolution climate
scenarios and statistical analysis. The Department also develops approaches
for evaluating extreme weather events, estimating agricultural emissions,
and improving resilience and sustainability in the agricultural sector.

The Department of Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Patras, with
its research staff, its scientific and technical personnel, and in
collaboration with other Departments, Research Institutions, and
International Organizations, contributes to the development of
climate-smart, sustainable agriculture. This is achieved through the
collection and detailed statistical analysis of past and present climate
data at various temporal and spatial scales, aiming at accurately
identifying changes and occurrences of extreme weather and climate
phenomena, recording meteorological and climate parameters at the crop or
farm level for the purpose of crop planning (planning at various levels,
e.g., geographic location, type, variety), measuring greenhouse gas
emissions (e.g., water vapor, CO2) from agricultural activities, and
collecting and analyzing future climate parameter data. These data pertain
to different scenarios and models. The analysis of future climate parameter
forecasts is used in agro-climatic models that simulate agricultural
production, in risk assessment for future natural disasters, and in the
sustainable management of water resources.

The Department of Sustainable Agriculture envisions significantly
contributing to the development of a sustainable agricultural production
model by using new approaches such as:

Risk assessment based on historical data and future forecasts.

ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA

ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA (ELGO – DIMITRA)

ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA is the national body responsible
for agricultural research and technology in Greece, supervised and financed,
more than 51%, by the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development & Food.
ELGO – DIMITRA with its 300 Research scientists spread in its Research
Institutes and Stations throughout Greece is also in charge of research for
technological improvement and development in agricultural, forest and fish
production. It is also concerned with topics of veterinary, management of
marine resources, soil science, land reclamation, processing and
preservation of agricultural products.

ELGO-DIMITRA is participating in the LIFE LULUCF ATLAS project with two
institutes:

  1. The Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (IMFE)

The Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems (IMFE) was established in
Athens, Greece, in 1929 as “Forest Research Institute of Athens (FRIA)” and
was the research arm of the Greek Forest Service. In its more than 90 years
of operation, the Institute has produced excellent research always focusing
on the research needs of the practicing foresters of the Forest Service. In
1989 the Institute was integrated into the National Agricultural Research
Foundation (NAGREF) and its official title became “Institute of
Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems and Forest Products Technology”. In 2011
NAGREF was merged with three other organizations of the Ministry of Rural
Development and Food forming the ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA to
which the Institute now belongs. The name of the Institute was shortened to
“Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems” (IMFE). IMFE’s main research
interests include Forest management and forest economics, Silviculture and
forest genetics, Forest soils and biogeochemistry, Forest protection and
forest fires, Landscape architecture, Forest ecology, Forest hydrology,
Forest Meteorology and Climatology, Biodiversity, Science and technology of
wood, Forest Entomology, Tree Physiology and Forest apiculture. Currently,
the institute is involved in numerous national and international research
projects focused in Forest Research, which are supported by 14 Researchers,
as well as special scientists, technical and administrative staff and
non-permanent personnel. As a previous part of the Hellenic Forest Service,
IMFE maintains close collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Environment
(Directorate General of Forests and Forest Environment) and also with the
regional Forest authorities of Greece.

IMFE has profound experience on the implementation of LIFE projects.
Indicatively, the Institute has recently participated in the implementation
of the following on-going projects: LIFE17 NAT/GR/000511-LIFE PRIMED:
Restoration, management and valorisation of PRIority habitats of
MEDiterranean coastal areas, LIFE17 GIC/GR/000029 – LIFE GrIn: Promoting
urban integration of GReen INfrastructure to improve climate governance in
cities.

  1. The Forest Research Institute (FRI)

The Forest Research Institute (FRI), established in 1963, is one of the two
multi-disciplinary institutes of ELGO-DIMITRA (and Greece as a whole) that
promotes through research, consultation, and knowledge dissemination the
sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of terrestrial
ecosystems such as forests and rangelands and the preservation and
enhancement of plant and wildlife resources for the benefit of people and
nature. With 20 researchers, as well as technicians, administrative staff
and non-permanent personnel (young researchers and PhD and master students),
the FRI is involved in numerous projects funded by the State, the European
Union, bilateral national co-operations and the private sector and has the
necessary administrative capacity for the financial management of large
projects. Furthermore, FRI advises the Greek government and regional
forestry administration on forest policy issues and maintains close
collaborations with national forestry/agroforestry end-users.

Democritus University of Thrace

DIMOKRITIO PANEPISTIMIO THRAKIS – DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE
(DUTH)

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) operates since the academic year
1974-1975. The University is currently operating eight Schools and nineteen
Departments in four cities of Thrace. DUTH is currently participating in 919
projects (EU-funded programmes – FP7, H2020, JUST Grants, Life actions,
Erasmus+, Jean Monnet Chair etc.) and transnational and national projects).

DUTH participates through the Department of Forestry and Management of the
Environment and Natural Resources, the staff of which has more than 15
years’ experience in forest management inventories, model development and
sustainable management of forest ecosystems, climate change and carbon
estimation.

In the last years, the Department has gained experience in sustainable
exploitation of forest resources, regional development, CO2 emissions
reduction and estimation of Life Cycle impact of forest products on the
environment and climate change, through the participation in one Intelligent
Energy Europe (BioEUparks 2013-16) and one H2020 (SEEMLA 2016-18) projects,
dealing with these issues, in a EuropeAid project (2017-18) to develop a
protocol to assess the impact of forest management practices on climate
change, following European policies and LULUCF norms and is currently
involved in a LIFE19 project regarding Strategic Environmental Management in
Mount Athos under Climate Change (CCA/GR/001185 LIFE_STEMMA_ATHOS,
2020-2025) and in two national projects, one dealing with the Pilot
Implementation of the National Plan for Reforestation and Upgrading of
Public Forest Nurseries (Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy,
2021-2023) and a second concerning Science at the service of the State and
Society for tackling Climate Change (CLIMPACT2, 2023-2025).

GOUNARIS N. – KONTOS K. ΕΕ (HOMEOTECH)

GOUNARIS N. – KONTOS K. OE (HOMEOTECH)

HOMEOTECH is a SME operating in Thessaloniki, Greece since 2001. The company
provides technical and scientific consultancy services to Public
Administration, Research institutes, Local Authorities, and Private
individuals in the fields of environmental and forest engineering,
management, protection and development of natural resources. With more than
20 years of experience in national and EU environmental, forestry and urban
greening projects the company keeps investing in innovation and stays
committed to the provision of high-quality specialized services.

HOMEOTECH developed the GreenTree application package in 2015, to facilitate
the management of urban green spaces. The initial development of the
applications took place in the framework of the project: “Creation of an
integrated model system for the government in the management of urban
forestry and the adaptation of cities to climate change”, (acr.
URBAN.FOR.MA.S) and since then it is constantly evolving to meet the
requirements of the bodies responsible for the management of trees within
the urban fabric in the best possible way. The company has successfully
completed the urban green inventories for 3 municipalities in Greece using
this software.

In 2021 HOMEOTECH, in cooperation with DUTH, also developed the Forest Act
tools, funded by the Greek General Secretariat for Research and Innovation,
Ministry of Development (Code OPS 3975). Forest Act includes a database with
spatially explicit information for the implementation of dynamic forest
monitoring and management in accordance with EU Regulation 2018/841.

Finally, HOMEOTECH has considerable experience in project management, gained
through the coordination of national projects and the technical and
financial management of LIFE projects such as LIFE03NAT/GR/000093, LIFE GRIN
(LIFE17-GIC-GR 000029) and LIFE ATIAS (LIFE18-NAT-GR 000430). The company is
participating in LIFE GRIN and LIFE ATIAS as associated beneficiary, and is
also involved in LIFE STEMMA ATHOS (LIFE19-CCA-GR- 001185) as a
subcontractor.

National Technical University of Athens

NTUA Climate MRV Unit

The NTUA Climate MRV Unit operates within the School of Chemical Engineering
of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), under the Division of
Process Analysis, Design and Development (Division II).

Since 2007, the Climate MRV Unit has acted as the official technical advisor
to the Ministry on climate change–related issues, with its staff
representing Greece in EU working groups and in international climate
negotiations under the UNFCCC. The Unit serves as the scientific coordinator
of the Greek Greenhouse Gas Inventory System, with core expertise in GHG and
air pollutant inventories, climate policy assessment, and the design,
implementation, and monitoring of climate change mitigation and adaptation
strategies and action plans. This expertise includes a strong focus on
agriculture, forestry, and land use (LULUCF).

In this context, the Unit coordinates the LIFE LULUCF ATLAS project
(starting January 2026), a four-year initiative aiming to strengthen LULUCF
governance in Greece through improvements to the GHG inventory system, the
design and assessment of mitigation and adaptation policies, and enhanced
stakeholder engagement. The project brings together seven partners and two
associated national public authorities and includes replication activities
in Bulgaria. In addition, the Unit participates in the LIFE-IP AdaptInGR
(AdaptiveGreece) project, which supports the implementation of Greece’s
National Adaptation Strategy, with agriculture and forestry identified as
priority sectors.

The Climate MRV Unit has also contributed substantially to the preparation
and monitoring of the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan and provides
continuous support to national and European reporting under the UNFCCC and
EU climate legislation. This work is carried out in close collaboration with
international organizations (UNFCCC), European institutions (EEA, DG CLIMA),
and national authorities (Ministry of Environment and Energy, ELSTAT,
NECCA). Climate MRV Unit staff also serve as expert and lead reviewers under
UNFCCC processes.

The scientific coordinator of the NTUA Climate MRV unit is
Dr Ioannis Sempos (Sebos).

Projects under the coordination of the Climate MRV Unit:

Other projects with participation from the Climate MRV Unit

National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) HOMEOTECH Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) ELGO-DIMITRA Science for Nature Foundation (SNF) University of Patras (UPATRAS) Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)