On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Piraeus SA, as the Management Entity of the UNESCO World Geopark Vikos-Aoos, in cooperation with the Troufokykklos Development Association and with the participation of the Management Unit of the North Pindos National Park (O.F.F.P.E.K.A.), held the event «Autumn walk for the day of geodiversity» in Doliani Zagori.
The participants, who numbered over 70, had the opportunity to walk on paths through the deciduous forests from Doliani to Leptokarya and search for the notorious truffles with the help of special dogs (food dogs). Along the way, following faithfully the programme «Decoding the environment around us», experts and local knowledgeable scientists discussed with the people and explained the connection between geodiversity and biodiversity and in particular the geology of the Eastern Zagori area and its relationship with the flora, vegetation, mushrooms and truffles. In addition, references were made to land use in the present and in the past and how a purely agricultural land has become a dense forest today, leaving the signs of the past next to and on the paths: the ruins of the old mill, the old iconostasis with the limestone and the stone bridge in Sliva.
Throughout the walk there were parallel activities: birdwatching, a workshop for children and Pilates in the framework of ’green exercise«. This was followed by an open discussion and »truffle-mushroom-cooking« with a small tasting, adapted to the occasion.
World Geodiversity Day (6 October) was established by UNESCO recently, only in 2021. The main objective of celebrating this day is to bring the world into contact with the endless diversity of geological formations, geomorphs, rocks and fossils that make up the variety of the earth's geological heritage so that we can learn about it and protect it.
Geodiversity is defined as the variety of non-living elements of nature, such as rocks, minerals, fossils, soils, sediments, geomorphs, mountains and mountain ranges, spectacular landscapes, groundwater, rivers, lakes and wetlands, and even the processes that create, modify or even destroy them, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, etc.
The event is part of the initiatives to promote the Vikos-Aoos Geopark, which is an integral part of the network of 230 UNESCO World Geoparks, actively contributing to the implementation of the principles of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the promotion of the balance between environmental protection and sustainable development. We thank all those who contributed to the organization and implementation of this wonderful celebration, as well as those who honoured us with their participation.
