Erasinos is a river that ends up in Vravrona on the eastern coast of Attica, forming a wide and beautiful wetland. It passes through a significant archeological place, the temple of Artemis which is right behind the wetland.

The temple of Artemis was not built on that site by coincidence. In the antiquity the waters of the Erasinos River were flowing right beside the holy temple of Artemis. The landscape, calm and wild at the same time, with a flora and fauna untouched by humans, was an integral part of the holiness of the place. The first citizens of Vravrona, around 3500BC built their pre-historical acropolis on a hill nearby.

The Erasinos wetland, officially declared “protected Natura 2000 Wetland”, is unique for Attica and shelters many species:

- 176 bird species have been recorded in the wetland, 28 of them included in Annex I of the 79/409 European Direction (species in danger or vulnerable) and 16 species are included in the Greek Red Book of endangered species.

- Besides the birds, 20 species of vertebrate animals have been recorded, most of them officially protected and 4 of them included in Annex II of 92/43 European Directive.

17 types of habitats included in the 92/43 European Directive are also recorded in the area.

The Erasinos River is planned to be converted into a concrete canal (with gabions) thus destroying 5 hectares (50.000m2) of this unique wetland. The damage will represent more than 35% of the total area and specifically the part of the river with the biggest ecological importance.

The planned construction will result into the degradation and disappearance of:

- The habitat of the species that live, reproduce or visit the wetland (migration birds)
- The future of the various species depending on it
- The water quality of the wetland that will become salted
- The sacredness of the place that is combined with the river

- The unique landscape

This project is violating the Greek and European relevant legislation that both protect the place due to its magnificent ecological and archeological value.

Save the Erasinos River

Save the Erasinos River