LIFE Phoenix project at the 12th Conference of the Hellenic Ecological Society (HELECOS 12)

The LIFE Phoenix project participated in the 12th Conference of the Hellenic Ecological Society (HELECOS 12), held at the Central Buildings of the University of Athens between 1 – 4 October 2025.

The Conference brought together more than 350 delegates from Greek and European universities, research institutes, NGOs, public administrative bodies, and ministry directorates, presenting recent advances in ecological research in Greece.

Within the framework of LIFE Phoenix project, the Natural History Museum of Crete – University of Crete (NHMC – UoC) and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) contributed to the scientific programme with two poster presentations:

• Genetic population structure of the endemic Cretan palm Phoenix theophrasti (Arecaceae) using minisatellite markers – providing new insights into the species’ genetic diversity and conservation needs.
• Conservation of Crete’s Palm Groves through participatory processes and early warning detection – highlighting participatory approaches involving local communities, professionals, and institutions, and the implementation of an early warning system to detect threats such as the red palm weevil.

Through its active participation, the LIFE Phoenix project continues to disseminate project results, and to enhance the conservation and resilience of Crete’s palm ecosystems.