Maps of forestland being drawn up
Programs, measures and money for forests all exist – but how many forests there are, where they are, and to whom they belong to remains unknown. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 67 sub-departments have been set up within the prefectural and regional forest departments in order to draw up maps of forestland and thus settle questions of ownership status. When this process, which is linked to the Greek National Land Register, will be completed is not known. By the end of March, however, the Agriculture Ministry’s committee will have formulated its proposals for a bill on forest protection. The new bill – which in fact has been in the making for over five years – adapts existing legislation to the revised Constitution. The ministry will spend 14 million euros this year on forest protection in order to hire 2,040 seasonal workers for pruning and weeding purposes. Five forest villages have already been built, another 10 are on the drawing board, and open-air recreational areas and cycle routes will be constructed to help people familiarize themselves with forests.
