Six mountains with new designation of high environmental protection in Greece
Ktimatoemporiki Real Estate - 2023-10-27
Six mountains with new designation of high environmental protection in Greece - The White Mountains being one of them.
Greece is now the first country in Europe to establish what translates from Greek to English as "Fraudulent Mountains". As PEN Minister Costas Skrekas and Deputy Minister George Amyras announced at a press conference, the areas of high environmental protection that will be included in the "Fraudulent Mountains" are in the White Mountains, on Mount Saos in Samothrace, Smolikas, Tymfi, Taygetos and Mount Hatzi in South Pindos.
The mountains in question are:
Lefka Ori: Area: 382.06 sq. Km. | Altitude: 0-2.453 m.
Saos: Area: 97.30 sq.km. | Altitude: 0-1.611 m.
Smolikas: Area: 102.89 sq. Km. | Altitude: 782-2.637 m.
Tymfi: Area: 202.75 sq. Km. | Altitude: 460-2.497 m.
Taygetos: Area: 143.23 sq. Km Altitude: 432-2.407 m.
Hatzi: Area: 45.61 sq. Km. | Altitude: 598-2.038 m.
PEN (The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs) explained that “the area without roads with its perimeter zone of one kilometer” is defined as "Fraudulent Mountains". In these areas, the opening of new roads and the creation of other artificial interventions that alter or alter the natural environment is prohibited.
According to the Minister of PEN Costas Skrekas, development of RES projects in the areas that are part of this special protection regime is not allowed, although, the eight projects that have already received a producer certificate from RAE for these areas will not be implemented and these projects have not received approval.
The ministerial decision now prohibits the opening of roads for motor vehicles, the extension of existing ones regardless of category, as well as any kind of technical intervention, change or alteration of the natural environment. Legally existing projects and their maintenance are not affected. In addition, the marking, repair, maintenance and improvement of existing mountaineering and hiking trails is allowed, without the use of motorized access and provided that the interventions will be implemented with natural materials.
However, projects for the purposes of National Defense, as defined within the provisions of current legislation, are excluded from the terms and restrictions.
According to RIS, the "Fraudulent Mountains" are a brake on the overexploitation of the environment by human activities, but they do not put obstacles in the way of investment, as they concern areas untouched over time.
The aim of RIS is to avoid the fragmentation of the earth, in other words, the fragmentation of natural ecosystems into parts by the increase of roads and artificial surfaces.
Fragmentation has direct consequences for the loss, confluence and isolation of species habitats, population decline and local species extinction and degradation of ecological processes.
Ecotourism can be developed in any area that is of interest in terms of biodiversity and landscape aesthetics. This will maintain or create incentives for transition to green economic activity such as organic farming, promotion of traditional products and more.
As Mr. Skrekas and Mr. Amyras made known, the "Fraudulent Mountains" contribute to the conservation of natural biodiversity, prevent the entry of alien species, provide migration routes and intermediate stops in species of animals, capture carbon and reduce the effects of heat. In addition, they maintain the connectivity and integrity of the ecosystem, offering leisure, education and scientific knowledge to citizens. Finally, the "Fraudulent Mountains" regulate and protect the services of the ecosystem: clean water supply, erosion control, healthy soil, air quality, climate regulation, crop pollination, high resistance to the pest epidemic.
Specifically, Greece was in the first place in the increase of artificial surfaces in Europe (2015), while construction sites and roads consume more land in Greece than in Europe.
As Mr. Amyras pointed out: Roads are therefore considered one of the main causes of biodiversity, loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide, especially when entering natural ecosystems and former undisturbed areas.
Species habitats are shrinking, populations are isolated, wildlife mortality from vehicle collisions on the road network is increasing.
At the same time, all the ecosystem services associated with the soil, such as degradation or the nitrogen cycle, are lost, as the soil is sealed and converted into artificial soil.
As is well known, the impact on human health is also directly affected by the increase of pollution and the facilitation of the spread of diseases.
The European Commission has submitted a proposal for legally binding objectives for the restoration of the nature of the EU. in 2021.
Finally, "Roads Without Roads" is an action that was first implemented in 2001 in the USA under the title "The Roadless Rule" and is currently being studied by the European Union, in order to be integrated into the objectives of the Green Agreement.
Greece is now the first country in Europe to establish what translates from Greek to English as "Fraudulent Mountains". As PEN Minister Costas Skrekas and Deputy Minister George Amyras announced at a press conference, the areas of high environmental protection that will be included in the "Fraudulent Mountains" are in the White Mountains, on Mount Saos in Samothrace, Smolikas, Tymfi, Taygetos and Mount Hatzi in South Pindos.
The mountains in question are:
Lefka Ori: Area: 382.06 sq. Km. | Altitude: 0-2.453 m.
Saos: Area: 97.30 sq.km. | Altitude: 0-1.611 m.
Smolikas: Area: 102.89 sq. Km. | Altitude: 782-2.637 m.
Tymfi: Area: 202.75 sq. Km. | Altitude: 460-2.497 m.
Taygetos: Area: 143.23 sq. Km Altitude: 432-2.407 m.
Hatzi: Area: 45.61 sq. Km. | Altitude: 598-2.038 m.
PEN (The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs) explained that “the area without roads with its perimeter zone of one kilometer” is defined as "Fraudulent Mountains". In these areas, the opening of new roads and the creation of other artificial interventions that alter or alter the natural environment is prohibited.
According to the Minister of PEN Costas Skrekas, development of RES projects in the areas that are part of this special protection regime is not allowed, although, the eight projects that have already received a producer certificate from RAE for these areas will not be implemented and these projects have not received approval.
The ministerial decision now prohibits the opening of roads for motor vehicles, the extension of existing ones regardless of category, as well as any kind of technical intervention, change or alteration of the natural environment. Legally existing projects and their maintenance are not affected. In addition, the marking, repair, maintenance and improvement of existing mountaineering and hiking trails is allowed, without the use of motorized access and provided that the interventions will be implemented with natural materials.
However, projects for the purposes of National Defense, as defined within the provisions of current legislation, are excluded from the terms and restrictions.
According to RIS, the "Fraudulent Mountains" are a brake on the overexploitation of the environment by human activities, but they do not put obstacles in the way of investment, as they concern areas untouched over time.
The aim of RIS is to avoid the fragmentation of the earth, in other words, the fragmentation of natural ecosystems into parts by the increase of roads and artificial surfaces.
Fragmentation has direct consequences for the loss, confluence and isolation of species habitats, population decline and local species extinction and degradation of ecological processes.
Ecotourism can be developed in any area that is of interest in terms of biodiversity and landscape aesthetics. This will maintain or create incentives for transition to green economic activity such as organic farming, promotion of traditional products and more.
As Mr. Skrekas and Mr. Amyras made known, the "Fraudulent Mountains" contribute to the conservation of natural biodiversity, prevent the entry of alien species, provide migration routes and intermediate stops in species of animals, capture carbon and reduce the effects of heat. In addition, they maintain the connectivity and integrity of the ecosystem, offering leisure, education and scientific knowledge to citizens. Finally, the "Fraudulent Mountains" regulate and protect the services of the ecosystem: clean water supply, erosion control, healthy soil, air quality, climate regulation, crop pollination, high resistance to the pest epidemic.
Specifically, Greece was in the first place in the increase of artificial surfaces in Europe (2015), while construction sites and roads consume more land in Greece than in Europe.
As Mr. Amyras pointed out: Roads are therefore considered one of the main causes of biodiversity, loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide, especially when entering natural ecosystems and former undisturbed areas.
Species habitats are shrinking, populations are isolated, wildlife mortality from vehicle collisions on the road network is increasing.
At the same time, all the ecosystem services associated with the soil, such as degradation or the nitrogen cycle, are lost, as the soil is sealed and converted into artificial soil.
As is well known, the impact on human health is also directly affected by the increase of pollution and the facilitation of the spread of diseases.
The European Commission has submitted a proposal for legally binding objectives for the restoration of the nature of the EU. in 2021.
Finally, "Roads Without Roads" is an action that was first implemented in 2001 in the USA under the title "The Roadless Rule" and is currently being studied by the European Union, in order to be integrated into the objectives of the Green Agreement.
