Litochoro and the wider Mount Olympus area face growing wildfire risk and environmental pressure, alongside few real opportunities for young people to get involved in protecting their own community. Local authorities and environmental services are seriously understaffed, leaving real gaps in prevention and public outreach, and despite the high number of visitors the mountain receives, there is no permanent hub to mobilise volunteers or build local resilience.
As Greece's first National Park and a newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Olympus needs continuous protection and responsible visitor management. Rising tourism combined with climate-related wildfire risk make prevention, public awareness, volunteer mobilisation and local coordination urgent priorities, both for the safety of the people who live in and visit the area and for the mountain's natural and cultural heritage.
The project
The project runs a seasonal Wildfire Prevention Hub, training youth volunteers and delivering community awareness activities to improve how prepared both visitors and residents are for wildfire risk. Young people take part through paid civic service and open volunteering, working alongside residents and local partners rather than as outsiders brought in for the season.
The aim is to make climate action accessible to young people regardless of their background or prior experience, while strengthening coordination among local stakeholders and increasing the area's overall capacity for wildfire prevention. Over time, the project aims to contribute to a safer, more resilient landscape across the wider Mount Olympus region.
Who the project is for
The project's direct beneficiaries number over 3,000 people, including youth civic service members, local volunteers, residents and visitors reached through the Wildfire Prevention Hub and its community activities.
Its impact reaches further, to more than 10,000 people indirectly, who benefit from improved visitor safety, stronger wildfire preparedness, greater environmental awareness and a more resilient local community.
Project name: Ecogenia
Proposing organisation: Keep Mt. Olympus Safe: A Youth-Powered Wildfire Prevention Hub
Area of intervention: Environment & Sustainable Communities
Country: Greece