K. Skrekas: The first Environmental Studies for ‘Natura 2000’ in Crete, Evros and Peloponnese

“With the Special Environmental Studies (SPS) we are creating for the first time a clear framework for protection zones and land uses in the 446 areas of the Natura 2000 network”, said the Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, as they were consulted on Thursday the first three NRPs, concerning Natura 2000 protected areas in Eastern Crete, Evros, Rodopi as well as the southern Peloponnese.

According to Mr. Skrekas, “NRPs will be a useful tool for the sustainable development and protection of biodiversity in these areas of unique natural beauty.”

“Greek nature is a valuable national asset that we must protect from the effects of climate change and preserve it for future generations,” he said.

In particular, the NRPs set out an institutional framework for the demarcation and institutionalization of classified protection zones, setting clear terms and conditions for land use and economic activity in protected areas.

According to RIS, in order to protect the ecosystems and the species they host, they will indicate if and which anthropogenic activities are allowed in the individual zones of each region.

The Management Plans will specify the criteria and conditions for exercising the allowed anthropogenic activities in the individual areas of each study.

These include action plans that specify: the necessary measures, projects and programs, phases, costs, resources, funding agencies, implementation timetable, implementing agencies.

On the occasion of the start of the public consultation for the Special Environmental Studies and the Management Plans, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, George Amyras, stated:

“In the new era of environmental reforms of the Mitsotakis government, we are institutionally securing the biodiversity protection areas in our country and we are protecting the natural environment both for today and for future generations.

At the same time, we support the development of the economy. It is important to have an institutional framework without obstacles and bureaucracy, but with specific conditions and strict rules for investment in all regions of Greece. ”

Mr. Amyras stated that the consultation of the Special Environmental Studies is our obligation in the context of promoting transparency and efficiency in the decision-making for the environmental policy, noting that “the participation of all is important and I invite you to be helpers of this effort, participating in the consultation that begins “.

“We prove in practice that our will is to protect the Environment, especially the most environmentally sensitive areas. And we do this by defining land uses and clear rules with legal certainty,” said Deputy Minister of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Nikos Tagaras. Each NRP focuses on the designation of protected areas, the areas defined within them, the need or not to institutionalize peripheral zones, ecological corridors, as well as the proposal to regulate activities and functions and to provide appropriate measures and actions for the preservation of each protected object. protected area “.

The public consultation on NRPs through the website of the Ministry of Environment and Energy https://ypen.gov.gr/diavouleusi will last until the end of January and will be followed by the preparation of Management Plans for protected areas with the respective Presidential Decrees.

RIS has commissioned the preparation of 23 Special Environmental Studies and Management Plans for the 446 areas of the Natura 2000 network of the country.

Source: AMPE

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Source From: Capital

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