“The Lemon Grove of Livadia in Andros: Soundscape of Biodiversity & Stories of People”

Highlighting the history of Andros’ lemon groves

Andros has a deep-rooted agricultural history reflected in its terraced landscapes, dry-stone walls, bridges, cisterns, olive mills, and threshing floors. Its mountainous terrain, previous water abundance, and microclimates have fostered a rich ecosystem, with nearly half the island included in the Natura 2000 network.

Citrus cultivation—especially lemons, was once central to the island’s economy and maritime trade, with the fertile Livadia plain as a key growing area. While the economy has shifted toward tourism and services, lemon farming in Livadia continues under increasing environmental and social pressure.

Revitalizing the primary sector is now a sustainability priority, requiring approaches that connect agriculture with heritage, identity, and visitor experiences. This project focuses on Livadia’s lemon groves, using innovative tools such as acoustic ecology, oral history, and heritage interpretation.

Key activities include:

• Recording soundscapes using modern professional equipment by a specialized field sound recordist, during two different seasons (winter and spring) and across various times of day (dawn, midday, evening).

• Creation of a heritage interpretation audio tour (15 points of interest) along the circular walking route of the Livadia lemon grove, based on a historical study of traditional lemon cultivation in Andros. The tour will feature 15 short stories (approx. 3 minutes each), drawn from transcribed oral testimonies collected in a previous project and narrated by a trained interpretation guide.

• Development of a digital audio guide on Andros lemon cultivation practices, delivered via Android and iOS smartphone apps and spatially mapped to the Livadia plain. This tool introduces residents and visitors to the history and contemporary relevance of the lemons of Andros.