In the summer of 2007 one of the worst natural disasters in the history of modern Greece occurred. Extensive fires in many parts of the country, mainly during August, burned more than 268,834 hectares (≈ 2.700km2) of land resulting in the death of at least 63 people. 1,500 homes were destroyed and 6,000 people were left homeless, while the disaster caused 5 billion Euros in damage. The fire burned 4,5 million trees and 60,000 animals, including endangered species (deer of the Parnitha National Park) .

The areas affected were the prefectures of Messinia, Arkadia, Ilia, Achaia, Laconia , Argolis , Corinthia , Attica, Evia and Fthiotida .

Marfin Popular Bank, in the framework of actions by the Corporate Social Responsibility Program in collaboration with the “Management Body of Parnitha National Park” and the NATURA 2000 Network, implemented a program to upgrade, protect and equip the surrounding areas of Parnonas and Parnitha, and fund a large olive nursery in Troizina, Attica, in order to mass produce Greek olives used to reforestate the affected areas.

The main purpose of this Project was to highlight the Bank’s action with an exhibition held in the framework of the international conference “Environment, Climate Change & Commodities 2008” at the Grande Bretagne Hotel on 15.10.2008.

Deers at Parnitha

Nature at Parnonas mountain

Olive nursery in Troizina

The Exhibition in the halls of the Hotel Grande Bretagne