Centenarian Tree Network, 16-02-21

dasarxeio.com
Under the auspices of the "Greece 2021" Committee, the
Network of Perennial Trees of the Greek Revolution
by dasarxeio on 30/01/20214

The "Greece 2021" Committee decided to place the Action of the Institute of Culture of Messinia "1821 – 2021: Network of Ancient Trees of the Greek Revolution" under its auspices and included it in the national program of actions and events it coordinates, on the occasion of the celebration of the 200 years after the Revolution of 1821 (https://www.greece2021.gr/map).

Perennial trees are a symbol of wisdom, longevity, sacredness, bravery or serenity and have always held a central place in the
human civilization. These are trees respected by time and our ancestors, trees that show the resilience of nature over time, trees that managed to survive through the centuries combining their existence many times with important historical events. Based on these, we recognize the obligation and responsibility we have to protect and preserve them as living elements of our natural and cultural heritage.

Thus, on the occasion of the emblematic anniversary of the 200 years since the Greek Revolution, the anniversary Action aims at the systematic recording of the centuries-old trees of this historical period and the creation of a network for their protection and promotion. These are the last centenarians living witnesses of the history of the place and the landscape, trees that "saw" and "heard" the Greek revolutionaries dreaming of a free country, trees that lived through the battles of the Greek Revolution, trees that "heard" the bells ringing the joyful message of freedom from the Turkish yoke, trees surrounded with unique stories and myths over the years from 1821 until today.

At the same time, the aim of the program is to raise awareness of the local community and its active participation in the effort to identify and record these monumental trees, as well as the stories and beliefs with which they are connected. Subsequently, these emblematic trees will be marked with a special metal anniversary logo, created by renowned Melbourne-based expatriate artist Joanna Kordos, as part of local events showcasing the stories surrounding them. Subsequently, based on the final capabilities of the sponsorship program, a special documentary will be created to highlight the centuries-old trees of the Greek Revolution, while an anniversary album will be published with photographs and texts of the monumental trees and the stories that surround them.

Thus, in the context of climate change and its impacts, the program comes to highlight the importance of biodiversity for the existence and evolution of human civilization, as well as to sensitize local communities in the context of protection and promotion of natural and intangible cultural heritage. Furthermore, the Network of Perennial Trees of the Greek Revolution is intended to be the subject of study and educational programs of primary and secondary education, as a rare environmental reserve of biodiversity and as a living legacy of intangible cultural heritage. Thus, the Action is addressed to local communities, the scientific research community, nature lovers, and foreign travelers, as the Network of Perennial Trees will become a pole of tourist and historical attraction.

Finally, the research dossier, with all the monumental trees of the Greek Revolution, will be sent to the Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, in order to be evaluated by the National Scientific Committee for the Implementation in Greece of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) and the anniversary element to be inscribed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece.

INSTITUTE OF CULTURE OF MESSINIA

Network of Perennial Trees