A few days ago, an extremely important step was taken for her. environment protection in our country. This has nothing to do with the vote of a friend multi-ticketbut with a “sanction” from Ministry of the Environment text that for the first time sets specific targets for 263 out of 446 regions Natura network. In this way, a knowledge base is being created to take appropriate action on the part of our natural wealth that needs to be protected. At the same time, it “closes” an important gap compared to Community legislation, and the process of environmental licensing of projects in these areas becomes more important.

This institutional text, published in the Government Gazette (ΕΕΚ1807B/23), is the result of a collective work of expert scientists from Greek universities and environmental organizations, carried out in the context of Public program LIFE-IP 4 Natura. It is about setting “conservation targets” for important habitats and endangered species, areas belonging to the Natura 2000 network, while bird life conservation targets (the remaining 183 Natura sites) will appear in the spring.

What are the goals of conservation? Each of the areas selected for creation Natura 2000 network in Greece It was chosen 25 years ago for a specific reason, either because it contains endangered species of flora or fauna, or because it contains a very important habitat (or both). … The country’s recurring problem, which also led to a European Court of Justice conviction in 2019, has been that it has done little other than characterize these areas and establish some horizontal measures. What Community legislation required in 2006, and what we had to do by 2012, was to set specific goals for the maintenance (or improvement, if they are in poor condition) of the protected properties in the Natura areas and to define specific measures to achieve these goals.

First studies

In the past, the Ministry of the Environment has tried to address the shortage by commissioning a private individual to prepare a study. The study was carried out in 2015, but it was not accepted by public services, as it was considered insufficient. After consultation with the Community authorities, it was decided, through a reallocation of resources allocated to LIFE-IP (i.e. without additional Community funds), that the scientific group would review the old study and collect all the knowledge that has since emerged from the new scientific studies. publications and research programs in the general text. For those cases where scientific knowledge is still insufficient, it was decided to highlight this in the text of the conservation goals and fill the gaps over the next three years with targeted scientific programs. The text was finalized, discussed with members of the community, and after a year of maturation in the boxes of the ministry, finalized and approved by the decision of Deputy Minister Yorgos Amiras.

Pending

Text that the EU has been asking since 2012.

The next step is the completion of special environmental studies (which have been ongoing for the past three years), during which concrete measures will be established to achieve the country’s environmental goals.

Let’s look at some examples.

• In the Petaloudes area of ​​Paros, there is a 137-acre low cedar forest. The goal is for this forest to retain its area, covering more than 40% of the area under consideration in coexistence with other native species, while alien plant species are reduced by 5%. In the same area, there is a 30-acre area with breadfruit species that also needs to be preserved. Rare species of butterflies and Laphiatis (a species of snake) have been recorded in the same area, but there is not enough evidence to establish specific targets.

• In Schinias National Park in Attica, the main protected species is a pine forest of about 95 acres. The goal is not to reduce the forest, but to occupy most of it (more than 50%) with pines. At the same time, other types of vegetation, habitats and animal species (eg tortoises, house snake) are mentioned for specific purposes.

• At Alikis Beach in Samos, the goal is to conserve an area of ​​Mediterranean alipeds (174 acres), sand dunes and cedar forest (47 acres), as well as a population of a turtle species. Data on the prevalence of Posidonia, the presence of monk seals and other data are yet to be completed.

• In the protected sand dunes of Kyparissia Bay, the main goal is to conserve their area (932 acres), as well as the adjacent cedar and pine forests. Among the goals is the conservation of the Careta Careta population (750 individuals).