EFG Eurobank & WWF Hellas: “Learn, Participate, Protect – Parnitha National Reserve”

The Programme “Learn, Participate, Protect” targets a very vital green area in the Attica region, the Parnitha National Reserve. Its aim is to inform citizens, make them more aware and mobilize them for its protection. The Programme will start, during a pilot phase, with the voluntary participation of EFG Eurobank’s staff and WWF’s support and cooperation.

The Programme was presented, on behalf of EFG Eurobank, by Messrs. N. Pavlides, General Manager, Operations, Technology & Organisation and M. Vlastarakis, General Manager Retail Banking and, on behalf of WWF Hellas by Messrs. N.  Embeoglou and D. Karavellas, Vice-Chairman and Director respectively.

In his speech, N. Pavlides emphasized the fact that “this initiative follows a broader range of actions by the EFG Eurobank Group with the view to contributing to the community in which it operates and to supporting with the means at its disposal, major sectors such as Culture, Education, Sports and now the Environment. Social contribution forms an integral part of the Bank’s strategy since we believe that a dynamic and successful organisation should participate actively and contribute creatively to society. In the area of environment, EFG Eurobank has adopted an official Environmental Policy, committing to reduce the direct effects of its operation on the environment, as well as the indirect effects from the activities of its clients and suppliers.”

M. Vlastarakis presented in detail the Bank’s environmental activities and initiatives with respect to its internal operation and direct effects on the environment. He also referred to the efforts by the Bank to promote green products and enhance the awareness of its clients by introducing environmental risk assessment criteria when granting new loans to professionals and companies.

Presenting the Programme “Learn, Participate, Protect”, the Director of WWF Hellas, D.  Karavellas, pointed out that “it strives to acquaint people with a particularly important area, just 30 km away from Athens and to emphasise the imperative need of  its protection. At the same time, this programme opens a new, highly promising chapter in WWF Hellas already very successful cooperation with EFG Eurobank.”

It should be noted that EFG Eurobank is the first bank in Greece and one of the few in Europe with an ISO 14001 certification in environmental management for all its services and products in Attica. To date, the Bank’s environmental programmes include activities and initiatives focusing on employee information and awareness, reducing pollution from the organisation’s operation, sustainable development and natural resources conservation issues, the promotion of “green products”, the use of an environmental risk assessment system for new loans, as well as measurement and evaluation of the Bank’s environmental performance.

“Learn, Participate, Protect”

The aim of the Programme “Learn, Participate, Protect – Parnitha National Reserve”, is to introduce the public to this known yet unknown mountain, to reveal its secrets to the residents of Attica and not only them,  highlighting the need for immediate protection and sound management.

The following activities have been scheduled as part of this Programme:

• Guided tours (for groups, families, school children)
• Environmental education
• Teacher training seminars

Since May 2005, information material has been designed and published:

• The “Good Visitor’s Guide” with useful information about Parnitha and a map of the Reserve.
• “Observation Leaflet” for families and school children that will be joining the guided tours.
• “Environmental Education Kit” on Parnitha with slides, explanations and activity sheets that will be available at the beginning of the school year for lending, free of charge, to schools and teachers throughout the country.

From September onwards, the following activities will be launched:

• Guided tours for adults with the participation of EFG Eurobank’s personnel and WWF’s support, combined with information activities and voluntary contributions (September-October 2005).
• Guided tours for families (voluntary participation of EFG Eurobank staff and their families with WWF’s support), combined with information, environmental awareness activities, games in nature for children (September-October 2005).
• Environmental education for school children (school year 2005-2006)
• Teacher training seminars on the role and promotion of the natural environment in Environmental Education (October 2005).