Boulouki, in collaboration with the Municipality of Konitsa and the local communities of Kerasovo, Monastiri, and Pyrgos, implemented this project that addresses one of the most pressing challenges of our time: ensuring the harmonious coexistence of human-wildlife and the environment under the conditions of water scarcity brought about by the climate crisis. At the heart of this initiative lies the restoration of two traditional fountains, enriched with small-scale infrastructure for water collection that also serves the needs of wildlife and the maintenance of a third fountain.

Funded by the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT) and co-financed by the Municipality of Konitsa and Leventis Foundation, the project aimed to maintain and enhance the ecological corridors of the brown bear and wolf by securing access to fresh drinking water. In partnership with Callisto, ecological corridors were studied through field surveys and habitat models, while the HSGME investigated hydrogeological features that support water availability. Boulouki’s contribution focused on researching and documenting traditional knowledge of natural resource management and hydraulic building techniques, with the active participation of the Mastorochoria communities.

The project culminated in hands-on workshops at the fountains of Pigadoulia Agios Theodoros and Xoulia. More than a total of 35 participants from Greece, France, and Italy, along with volunteers, a Ph.D. researcher from Princeton University, and Boulouki’s team, worked under the guidance of master stonemasons Kostas Tzinas and Vasilis Samaras. Together, they restored the stone structure of two fountains, replacing cement-based mortar with on-site prepared lime-based mixtures, constructed a wildlife drinking trough featuring a stepped ramp for safe access, and added stone benches. Maintenance of a third fountain also took place to provide water both to humans and wildlife.

The workshops became a space of collaboration and exchange. Locals joined daily in the works and in evening lectures and discussions held in Kerasovo, Monastiri, Molista, and Ganadio, covering topics from landscape archaeology, forest ecology, butterflies and pollinators, chamois ecological corridors, the UNESCO Global Geopark Vikos-Aoos, and the Aoos River as a transboundary ecological corridor.