Initiative to Support Volunteer Forest Firefighting Teams

Staying true to its longstanding commitment to addressing the needs of the community and the environment –and in line with its strategy for sustainable growth and corporate social responsibility– National Bank of Greece consistently invests in initiatives with meaningful and measurable environmental impact. Today, with admiration and deep gratitude, NBG supports the volunteer forest firefighters who consistently go above and beyond.

In this context and under the auspices of the "Initiative '21", we join forces with the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and the Athina I. Martinou Foundation to jointly support the program that began in April 2022 with the collaboration of Desmos Non-Profit Foundation, WWF Greece, and HIGGS (Higher Incubator Giving Growth & Sustainability), aiming to support volunteer forest firefighting teams throughout Greece. Its actions have been planned in two phases: 2022–2024 and 2024–2026.

During the 1^st phase (2022 – 2024):

1,936 volunteers from 50 teams across Greece were reinforced with high-quality equipment.
574 volunteers from 118 teams received specialized training in forest fire prevention and suppression.
47 out of the 50 supported teams played a crucial role in responding to the major wildfires of 2023 in Attica, Corinthia, Rhodes, and Evros.

The 2^nd phase of the Program (2024–2026) aims to continue and enhance support for volunteer forest firefighting teams. So far, under this second phase:

Approximately 250 volunteers from ground-based firefighting teams in Attica, Chios, Komotini, Kavala, Evros, Crete, Evia, and Argolida have actively participated in the program’s experiential workshops, combining theory with hands-on field training.
More than 400 volunteers, citizens, and representatives of local organizations from 6 regions across the country have attended the wildfire prevention workshops.
30 volunteer teams from across Greece are set to receive specialized equipment tailored to recorded needs.

Overall, the 2^nd phase of the Program will focus on three key pillars:

Provision of specialized equipment, tailored to the specific needs of each team, with an emphasis on supporting ground-based teams, which have proven critical to the effective suppression of wildfires and the sustainability of volunteer structures.
Training through experiential workshops, offering hands-on training in the operation and organization of ground units, as well as specialized knowledge in wildfire prevention and suppression.
Creation of an online hub, serving as a platform for the exchange of know-how, best practices, and constant updates for volunteer forest firefighting teams.

These results demonstrate the value of the program and highlight what we can achieve when we join forces for a common purpose.

At National Bank of Greece, we acknowledge the invaluable role of volunteers and the importance of environmental protection for our community and collective growth. We continue to actively support efforts to safeguard our forests and strengthen the resilience of local communities against natural disasters – standing as the Bank that takes action today for a better, more sustainable tomorrow.