CHIOS NATURE calls for immediate action after the fires

by admin August 27, 2012

August 27, 2012 155 views

Following the devastating fires on Chios in August 2012, the conservation organisation CHIOS NATURE calls upon the Greek Government:

To ensure that immediate measures are taken to prevent soil erosion in the burned areas.
Immediately to ban all hunting in the burned areas for at least 2 years.
To provide a study and a plan for the replanting of the burned areas with native and endemic species, and to make funds available for the implementation of these.

Tears of Mastic, photo credits Efi Syrviti

To place a moratorium of at least 5 years on any large scale development that might have a negative impact on the island’s ecosystems.
To ensure that there is no change in the designation of land e.g. from forest to agricultural etc) and that no illegal building or grazing takes place.
To protect key areas from grazing in order to allow recovery of plant species.
To support the replanting of masticha (Pistachia lentiscus) bushes where these have been lost to the fires.

Butterfly Cynthia Cardui, photo credit Irene Michala

To commission studies of both the flora and fauna of Chios 2 years after the fire and consider reintroductions of species that have become locally extinct.
To ensure firefighters are properly equipped and resourced so that =uture wildfires can be fought effectively.

“After the squall”. Place: Grydia Chios, photo credits to Maria Kaimaki