ATHENS, Greece - WWF today urged the Greek Government to take
immediate action to put out the forest fires raging in Taygetos in the
Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece.
The Taygetos forests, one of the 100 WWF European forest hotspots in
need of special conservation attention, have been ablaze for the last
three days. Taygetos is the richest Greek forest in terms of biodiversity
and represents the most southern distribution point of black pine and fir
forests within Europe. Over 160 Greek endemic plant species can be
found there, 21 of which grow exclusively on Taygetos. Moreover, 36
species of fauna in the area are listed as internationally rare or
endangered.
"Already over 100.000 hectares of forest are reported to have been
engulfed by fires during this summer throughout Greece," said Dr.
Aristotelis Papageorgiou, forest officer at WWF Greece. "More damage is
feared before the season is over because of strong summer winds and
limited fire-fighting capabilities. Arsonists, wanting to clear land for
settlement and development, are the direct cause."
WWF had warned the Greek government of the forest fires which have
now equalled the all-time record of the year 1988.
"The Greek government must take immediate action to stop the fires from
spreading," said Dr. Papageorgiou. "Beyond that, it must put its house in
order by implementing an effective environmental policy for forest
conservation."
WWF urges the Greek government to take action to:
- Formulate and implement an integrated forest policy within which forest
fires will comprise a central component;
- Establish a special Forest Fire Service in accordance with a proposal
recently submmitted by the Greek Parliament;
- Clarify land tenure rights by establishing adequate forest tenure maps;
- Increase the allocation of funds and personnel to the Forest Service;
- Improve environmental education and public awareness on associated
issues.
The hundreds of forest fires that have been set throughout the Greek
countryside over the last month are the most direct and painful evidence
of the lack of an effective environmental policy, said WWF. If Greece
wants to protect its forest heritage, the action plan put forward by WWF
Greece must be taken seriously.
Contacts:
Aristoteles Papageorgiou, email: a.papageorgiou@wwf.gr;
or Alexandra Chaini, email: a.chaini@wwf.gr;
tel for both : +30 1 331 4893, fax +30 1 324 7578