The Challenge
The Greek islands are a global environmental treasure, renowned for their rich biodiversity, unique landscapes, and deeply rooted cultural traditions. Yet, this invaluable environmental capital is increasingly at risk.
Sikinos, one of the Cyclades’ last largely untouched islands, faces growing threats from overtourism, which strains fragile ecosystems, alters local lifestyles, and accelerates habitat degradation. Compounding these pressures are plans for expanding road networks and installing wind turbines on the island’s delicate mountain peaks—actions that risk fragmenting habitats and permanently altering Sikinos’ pristine natural heritage.
The Solution
In response, the Sikinos Union is spearheading a vital initiative to restore and reopen mountain trails that reveal the island’s extraordinary natural beauty while promoting sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism models. This project aims to shift the tourism paradigm away from mass tourism’s destructive impact toward eco-conscious hiking tourism that respects and preserves the environment.
By revitalizing the “Stamatini – Troulos peak – Agios Mamas” trail and engaging local stakeholders, the initiative fosters a deep connection between visitors and Sikinos’ unique biodiversity, ensuring that tourism supports rather than threatens the island’s long-term ecological and cultural integrity.
Activities
Within the support of CPF, Sikinos Union aims to
- Mobilize a skilled volunteer team, EPOS filis to clear and restore the mountain trail during Easter 2025.
- Establish links and arrange visits with key hiking tour operators, conservationists, and local leaders to promote Sikinos as a model of sustainable, off-season tourism.
- Collaborate with local authorities to maintain clear signage and protect the expanded trail network, ensuring ongoing conservation.
About the Grantee
Sikinos Union is among the oldest associations of Cyclades established in 1928. In recent years the Union is active in cultural issues; planning and executing summer events, helping the school’s causes, and building an environmental policy and awareness for locals and visitors helping to develop an environmentally friendly culture and tourism model for the island
What You Can Do
- Visit Sikinos all year and not only during the peak season and explore its natural beauty responsibly.
- Help raise awareness about protecting the island’s unique environment.
- In the case you are a hiking tourist operator, contact CPF to bring you in contact with the Sikinos Union
- Make a donation to CPF to continue supporting such initiatives in Cyclades
CPF’s grants support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This grant supports:
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.
The project restores and maintains mountain trails to support the island’s unique biodiversity and natural habitats. - SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
By promoting sustainable hiking tourism, the project encourages responsible tourism that minimizes environmental impact.
