‘Elafonisos Eco Week’ Ecological Symposium is Back for 7th Year

Individuals passionate about fostering sustainability on the planet will gather on Elafonisos, a small Greek island between the Peloponnese and Kythira, to attend the Elafonisos Eco Week 2024 symposium, an event that highlights the importance of ecological initiatives.

Set up for the seventh consecutive year by the ecological association Elafonisos Eco, the symposium will take place June 10-16 at the Elafonisos Resort. The event will host individuals from diverse backgrounds to discuss and introduce opportunities to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability on the planet.

“This symposium is an encounter for locals, authorities, academics, artists, entrepreneurs, and environmental enthusiasts, sharing proposals to enhance environmental solutions for endangered ecosystems such as islands,” the organizer said.

Elafonisos. Photo source: Elafonisos Eco

Throughout the week, the event will focus on the implementation of ecological solutions and sustainability while showcasing gastronomy, art, and local culture through sustainable lens.

There will be panels with over 30 expert speakers, various workshops, and over 100 guests from 12 countries, all focused on the same sustainable goal. A summit of local mayors will also take place, where they will commit to supporting environmental conservation efforts and projects in the area.

The key topics of the symposium

Photo source: Elafonisos Eco

The “Elafonisos Eco Week” ecological symposium will focus on six main objectives:

– Waste and water management: utilizing recycling, proper disposal, and other conservation methods to reduce waste and ensure the efficient use of water

– Sustainable tourism: responsible travel practices and conservation of local economies and cultures to have minimal impact on the local environment and communities

– Lionfish: a significant threat to the Mediterranean and its ecosystem, lionfish is highly invasive and jeopardizes the otherwise thriving local fishing economy

Members of the Elafonisos Eco association. Photo source: Elafonisos Eco

– Blue opportunities: through the sustainable use and conservation of marine and coastal resources, targeting various opportunities for the island’s economy

– Health and wellness: Promoting and supporting our local community’s physical and mental health with exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, stress management, and workshops

– Plastic-free future: by aiming to eliminate single-use plastics from all parts of the life cycle, reducing environmental pollution, and safeguarding our ecosystems

Participants at the Elafonisos Eco Week symposium. Photo source: Elafonisos Eco

Established in 2013, Elafonisos Eco is an ecological association focused on environmental actions, conservation of the natural environment, and social impact. Its main goal is to make Elafonisos an ecological and sustainable island, preserving its unique natural environment, part of which is protected by UNESCO, while improving the quality of life for locals, visitors, and future generations.

Eco Week has the support of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, who attended in 2023. This year, the event will welcome Dimitris Papastergiou, Minister of Digital Governance of Greece.