“Unpacking Greece’s Natura 2000: Why Environmental Plan Delays Matter for Our Future” – tovima.com

In Greece, the journey to protect its special natural areas has hit several bumps. There were 23 Special Environmental Studies (SES) planned to regulate how land is used in protected regions, known as Natura 2000 sites. However, only five of these studies have been approved, and none have received the official Presidential Decree needed for implementation.

These studies are vital for safeguarding Greece’s natural environment while supporting its development. Unfortunately, they’ve become mired in delays, lack of government oversight, and difficulties with putting the studies into action.

Natura 2000 sites cover about 28% of Greece’s land and 18% of its seas. Sadly, these areas are only protected on paper, with no solid environmental rules or development guidelines in place.

The holdup in finalizing the SES is complicating urban planning across much of Greece. As 80% of the country is under active planning, the absence of clear regulations for these protected areas is a significant barrier.

The need for a SES and a Presidential Decree for all protected areas was established 39 years ago under a landmark law. Over the years, this law has undergone many changes. One change allowed for temporary Ministerial Decisions that set management guidelines for up to six years, but many of these are now expiring without the SES being completed.

Commissioned in 2019, the SES aimed to cover Greece’s 446 Natura 2000 sites with a deadline of two and a half years. However, delays arose early on, primarily due to a legal amendment that added new requirements to the projects, requiring extensive revisions.

Giorgos Kotzageorgis, who oversees the studies, noted that the process essentially had to restart in 2022 due to these unexpected changes. Additional setbacks followed due to various factors: multiple deliverables submitted simultaneously, slow responses from government services, and challenges from consulting firms struggling to meet tight deadlines.

As it stands, only five studies have been approved, and public consultations for 15 others are complete. The remaining three are still in progress, with some expected to face further delays.

Petros Varelidis from the Ministry of Environment and Water highlighted that understaffing and difficulties in meeting project deadlines have contributed to the hold-ups. As development projects continue to progress on the ground—like new construction and infrastructure—these delays can complicate efforts further.

There are also legislative hurdles to overcome. The regulations from the recent law set specific land uses for each Natura zone, but some laws are seen as impractical. For example, bans on swimming in most zones and restrictions on road construction in certain areas have faced pushback from the community.

Experts argue that the current framework limits their ability to propose sensible land uses. This rigidity can lead to conflicts and potential legal challenges during the approval process.

Varelidis and Ioli Christopoulou, Vice President of the Natura 2000 Committee, stress the need for a clearer regulatory framework. Without the official decrees, effective environmental protection and sustainable development remain out of reach. They highlight that it’s urgent to finalize these decrees to ensure effective management of Greece’s rich natural resources.

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Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy,Natura 2000