BUSINESS: 348 PRACTICES
IMERYS Group is the world leader in mineral-based industrial solutions, offering specialized solutions necessary for its customers. IMERYS INDUSTRIAL MINERALS GREECE SINGLE MEMBER SOCIETE ANONYME mines and processes industrial minerals, mainly bentonite and perlite.
The fig tree (Ficus carica), a producer of sweet, edible fruits, holds a significant place in human history, likely being the first cultivated tree species. Currently, fig cultivation in Greece, particularly on its islands, faces a decline, impacting both quantity and the loss of ancient varieties uniquely adapted to the arid Greek climate. Recognizing this issue, Imerys initiated a restoration project in 2023. This involved identifying and collecting fig varieties across Milos, Kimolos, and other Cycladic islands. So far, eleven distinct varieties have been successfully collected and propagated at restored mines in the island of Milos.
Imerys' fig tree replanting initiative transcends traditional land reclamation, fostering environmental, social, and economic benefits.
This project exemplifies industry-nature reconciliation, yielding lasting value for land, people, customers, and the planet.
This initiative was implemented over a 7 month period (11/2023 – 05/2024), with a final evaluation at the end of 05/2024.
The Imerys Fig Tree Restoration Initiative is a holistic, community-rooted project aimed at restoring degraded mining landscapes in the Cycladic islands of Greece by reintroducing traditional, drought-tolerant fig tree varieties (Ficus carica). It represents a compelling fusion of environmental regeneration, cultural preservation, and sustainable rural development. Spearheaded by Imerys—a global leader in mineral-based solutions—the initiative addresses urgent biodiversity loss, food resilience, and land degradation through a model of sustainable, place-based action.
Once a central figure in Mediterranean ecosystems, economies, and diets, the fig tree has witnessed a sharp decline in cultivation across Greece. This decline has been especially acute in island regions such as Milos and Kimolos, where historic varieties are disappearing due to land abandonment, climate pressure, and modern agricultural shifts. Recognizing the ecological, cultural, and economic value of these trees, Imerys began a program in 2023 to systematically identify, collect, propagate, and replant eleven heritage fig varieties across its rehabilitated mine sites.
This initiative not only restores life to once-degraded land but also rebuilds ecosystems, fosters intergenerational community engagement, enhances food security, and contributes directly to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Imerys’ act4nature biodiversity commitments. It exemplifies how industry can serve as a steward of nature and culture, transforming challenges into regenerative opportunities.
The fig tree (Ficus carica) is among the earliest known domesticated fruit trees, with cultivation dating back over 11,000 years. Historical references to fig trees can be found in the Old Testament, the Homeric Epics, and classical Greek sources, underscoring their role in the nutritional and symbolic life of Mediterranean societies. In Ancient Athens, the fig was so valued that its export was prohibited—testament to its vital place in food security and cultural identity.
Despite this historical importance, fig cultivation in Greece has drastically declined in recent decades. Island regions such as the Cyclades—where water scarcity, depopulation, and tourism-driven land use have reshaped traditional agriculture—have seen a disappearance of native fig varieties, many of which are uniquely adapted to the hot, arid, and nutrient-poor environments of the Aegean.
The disappearance of these varieties represents more than a loss of biodiversity; it signifies the erosion of agroecological knowledge, cultural identity, and climate resilience. Coupled with the pressing need to restore post-mining landscapes in the region, this situation presented a unique opportunity for Imerys to develop an innovative solution.
In 2023, as part of its post-mining land restoration strategy, Imerys launched a fig tree recovery and planting project across its sites in Milos and Kimolos. The project began with an ambitious biodiversity mapping effort to identify traditional fig varieties on these and nearby islands.
Imerys successfully located, documented, and collected 11 unique fig varieties, including:
Each of these varieties represents an irreplaceable part of Greece’s botanical and cultural heritage. To ensure scientific accuracy and long-term viability, the classification and propagation of the varieties were carried out in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and the Institute of Subtropical Plants and Fig Trees of Kalamata—two of Greece’s leading institutions in agricultural biodiversity.
Once propagated, the fig trees were planted across designated areas of the Imerys restoration zone. The trees were installed in carefully prepared plots that had undergone ecological restoration, including soil improvement, contouring for water retention, and habitat design to support pollinators and beneficial fauna.
The approach was not merely to “green” the site, but to transform a post-industrial landscape into a thriving, biodiverse, and productive ecosystem. Fig trees—perennial, drought-resistant, and capable of thriving in nutrient-poor soils—were the ideal species for this purpose.
A cornerstone of the initiative is community engagement. Local schoolchildren from Adamantas Primary School participated in the planting process, introducing them to environmental stewardship and agroecological practices from an early age.
This intergenerational involvement connects restoration to place-based education and social cohesion. Local farmers, residents, and volunteers have also participated in the project, reinforcing community ownership and the transfer of traditional knowledge.
This initiative demonstrates robust alignment with multiple SDGs by addressing the interconnected challenges of land degradation, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and rural development:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being as it offers access to fresh fruit and green spaces that support physical and mental well-being.
SDG 13: Climate Action as it supports carbon sequestration through tree planting and soil rehabilitation.
SDG 15: Life on Land through Rebuilding ecological function and pollinator interactions using native species.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – through heritage preservation and green space creation.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – via collaboration with academic institutions, schools, and communities.
The fig tree initiative also delivers against key pillars of Imerys’ act4nature corporate biodiversity commitments, specifically:
1. Restoring Biodiversity on Degraded Land
2. Enhancing Land Rehabilitation with Long-Term Ecological Value
3. Supporting Pollinators and Ecological Interactions
4. Engaging Local Stakeholders and Communities
5. Monitoring, Measuring, and Sharing Outcomes
Long-Term Benefits
For Local Communities and Employees
For Customers and Partners
For the Environment and Society
The Imerys Fig Tree Restoration Initiative is a leading example of regenerative sustainability. It transforms degraded landscapes into thriving ecological and cultural assets. By interweaving biodiversity conservation, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, the project exemplifies how industrial actors can be agents of environmental and social renewal.
This initiative is not simply about planting trees—it is about rebuilding resilience in landscapes, ecosystems, and communities. It breathes new life into ancient traditions while seeding future opportunities for rural development, food security, and biodiversity stewardship.
Imerys’ work in the Cyclades is a living testament to the potential for harmony between industry and nature—a forward-thinking, place-based response to global challenges that is both locally rooted and globally relevant.
Imerys collected, propagated, and planted heritage fig tree varieties native to the Cycladic and Aegean islands (e.g., Black Milos, Sour Kimolos, and Red Kimolos, etc.) as part of its post-mining land restoration efforts in Greece.
The initiative resulted in the collection and propagation of at least 12 distinct fig varieties, with a minimum of 100 saplings planted in one restored mining site by the end of the project period.
Imerys collaborated with botanical experts (the Agricultural University of Athens and the Institute of Subtropical Plants and Fig Trees of Kalamata), and the local community (the Adamantas Primary School) to ensure proper genetic preservation, planting, and care of the trees.
Restored Imerys mine in Milos island.
In addition to the teachers and students of Adamas Primary School and their parents, volunteer employees of Imerys participated throughout the project, and especially during the preparation, transportation and planting of the trees.
The company benefits in the following ways:
