First Meeting of the LIFE Phoenix Project Working Group in Crete

The first meeting of the LIFE Phoenix Project Working Group was held in a positive and constructive atmosphere in Heraklion, Crete, on 26 January 2026. The meeting was organised by the Natural History Museum of Crete-University of Crete and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, with the participation of representatives of competent authorities, local administrations, and collaborating stakeholders.

The Working Group was established within the framework of the project as the main forum for participation and consultation at the regional level and operates as an open and dynamic platform for cooperation among key stakeholders. During the meeting, the progress of the project to date was presented in detail, with particular emphasis on the results related to the protection of priority habitat 9370* “Palm groves of Phoenix”. Special reference was made to the findings of the initial studies, the ecology of the Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti), as well as the proposed interventions aimed at improving the conservation status of the habitat.

The management actions planned for the upcoming period were also presented, along with the strategy for safeguarding areas where the habitat experiences increased visitor pressure. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of participatory processes and on the importance of cooperation among the involved authorities and stakeholders.

The discussion that followed was substantive and constructive, allowing for the exchange of views, experience and proposals regarding the challenges faced by the palm groves of Crete. This first meeting marked the beginning of a systematic collaboration, with a shared commitment to strengthening habitat protection and coordinating on field interventions.