The Forest Research Institute of Athens (FRIA) was established in Athens, Greece, in 1929 as the research arm of the Greek Forest Service.
In its more than 90 years of operation, the Institute has produced excellent research always focusing on the research needs of the practicing foresters of the Forest Service.
In 1989 the Institute was integrated into the National Agricultural Research Foundation (NAGREF) and its official title became “Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems and Forest Products Technology”.
In 2011 NAGREF was merged with three other organizations of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food forming the Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DEMETER” to which the Institute now belongs. The name of the Institute was shortened to “Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems” (IMFE).
The Institute is located in a park-like stand of pine trees, in the area of Ilisia, near the center of Athens.