The participation of the private sector in the active management of forests was proposed by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis.
In his statements to CNN, the minister described the situation in Attica with the fires and emphasized that “financial resources and the participation of both the private sector and the markets are needed to clean up the forests”.
In fact, as he noted, “we need the private sector, we need to utilize the fuel that has been collected in the forests for decades: Whether for biofuels, energy or wood products”.
Change in prevention method
According to Mr. Skylakakis, a change in forest fire prevention is required “otherwise we will lose the forests”.
“The private sector must become part of our policy. It is necessary to get involved so that the fuel (ie biomass) comes out of the forests and is utilized by the market”.
He explained that both in the Mediterranean and in the USA the big problem is the biomass that has accumulated in the forests and turns wildfires into mega-fires. “The climate crisis is here,” he emphasized at another point, “and we are fighting fires.” In Greece we had two heat waves which favored the occurrence of fires.
He underlined that “Greece has increased its firefighting aircraft, helicopters and firefighters. We spent 150 million euros over the two years for forest fire prevention. Preparations are being made, we are opening fire zones and taking other preventive measures.”
Mr. Skylakakis spoke about the “need for active forest management with the involvement of the private sector”.
However, according to information, in this way, i.e. the participation of the market in the clearing of forests, the utilization of fuel, the public sector collects more resources that can be allocated to the prevention and treatment of fires.
Latest News
Greece’s Assets Body Launches Tender for Business Park in Fyli
Once completed, the Fyli business park will serve as a national transport hub, creating jobs and revenues for Western Attica.
ELSTAT: 3.4% Rise in Retail Trade Turnover in Q1 – 2.9% Drop in March
Regionally, Thessaly experienced the highest increase in turnover in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with a 5.3% rise.
Fruit and Vegetable Exports Increase by 5.8% in Value in Q1, 2024
Conversely, the import of fruits and vegetables surged in the first quarter of 2024, increasing by 17.1% in volume and 20.9% in value compared to the same period in 2023.
Greek Shipowners in 1st Place for New Orders and Secondhand Ships
Research at Allied QuantumSea shows Greek ship holders are also first in ship sales, showing they are modernizing their fleets
PDMA: Yield of Greek 10-Year Bond Set at 3.51%
Bids surpassed expectations, exceeding the 250 million euros initially offered by approximately 3.5 times, totaling 835 million euros.
IOBE: Olive Oil Drives April Food Inflation to 5.4% in Greece
This discrepancy occurs because the weighting of olive oil in the consumer price index, as prescribed by Eurostat regulations, is significant due to its historically high consumption by Greek households
UK Tourists Boost Growth in Greece’s Off-Peak Season
British Airways has significantly contributed to this growth, reporting a 6.6% increase in passengers in the first four months of this year compared to last year.
INSETE Report: Greece a Hotspot for European Vacationers
Greece among top five countries on travelers' itineraries from Germany, France and the UK
Study: Cost of Basic Food Basket in Greece and Other Countries
The findings are based on IELKA's regular report, which includes a price comparison study using data from price comparison platforms in each country and direct price checks from supermarket chains.
DBRS: Greece’s Economic Reforms Boost Growth Prospects, But Investment Gap Remains
However, despite these advancements, Greece still faces a substantial investment gap compared to its eurozone peers.