Legal Framework

Short History of the protection of environment in Greece

In Greece, the first protected area, the Olympus National Park, was established in 1938, according to Law 856/37. However, other legislative documents that had been issued in previous years considered the protection of specific areas, like Law 4273/1929 that established the term of “Protective Forests”. Later on, within the framework of the Forest Legislation, new categories of protected areas were introduced, such as “Aesthetic Forests”, “Natural Monuments”, “Controlled Hunting Areas”, “Game Reserves” and “Game Breeding Stations”. In addition, the “Archaeological Legislation” (Law 1469/1950) provided also the category “Landscapes of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.

By Law 2637/1998, game reserves were renamed as Refuges of Wildlife and new management objectives were specified. Their establishment aims to the maintenance of the natural attributes and qualities of the environment that are essential for the protection of wild fauna and flora, which are either necessary for the survival of one or more species, that are unique, rare or endangered or constitute representative habitat types. The law-framework 1650/1986 underlies the basic concept for the protection of natural environment in Greece. It refers specially to the “Protection of Nature and the Landscape” in which provisions for protected areas are laid. The most important regulations of Law 1650/1986 are those concerning the division of protected areas in five categories (absolute nature reserves, national parks, nature reserves, protected significant natural formations and landscapes, eco-development areas) and the procedures for the declaration and management of protected areas (Articles 18, 19, 21 and 22).

By law 3044, in 2002, the following Management Bodies were established:

• M.B of Evros Delta
• M.B of Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park
• M.B of Kerkini Lake
• M.B of Messologi Lagoon
• M.B of Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas Delta
• M.B of Koroneia-Volvi Lakes
• M.B of Northern Sporades-Alonisos Marine National Park
• M.B of Nestos-Vistonida-Ismarida Delta
• M.B of Mount Parnonas-Moustos Wetland
• M.B of Pamvotis Lake, Ioannina
• M.B of Amvrakikos Wetland
• M.B of Strofilia-Kotychi Wetlands
• M.B of Vikos-Aios-Pindos National Park
• M.B of Prespa National Park
• M.B of Mount Ainos National Park
• M.B of Olympus National Park
• M.B of Samaria National Park
• M.B of Mount Parnassus National Park
• M.B of Mount Parnitha National Park
• M.B of Mount Oeta National Park
• M.B of Kalamas Estuaries
• M.B of Mount Chelmos-Vouraikos River
• M.B of Rhodope Mountain Range
• M.B of Karpathos-Saria
• M.B of Mavrovounio-Karla-Kefalovryso of Velestino

Two additional management bodies (Zakynthos National Marine Park and Schinias National Park) have been set up by presidential decrees. However, we should always bear in mind that the endeavor of protecting the biological diversity does not stop with the establishment of protected areas, it is essentially where it starts! The declaration is an absolutely necessary step but it is not sufficient. It is also necessary to ensure the management regime, namely to define and implement all measures, actions and interventions needed for the effective protection, organization and operation of protected areas so that they will serve the purposes of their declaration, taking always into account the national and regional planning.

Therefore, the management of these areas is an ambitious project that constitutes the greatest challenge ever faced by our country in the field of protection of the natural environment.

Relevant OFFICIAL GAZETTE ISSUES

Operational framework of the Management Body of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park

• Ministerial Decision No. 1006/24-01-2006 (Official Gazette Issue 62/B/2006) “Approval of the Regulation on the operation of services and personnel of the Management Body of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park”
• Ministerial Decision No 865/24.01.2005 “Approval of the Regulation on Operation of the Board of Directors of the Management Body of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park”, 864/24.01.2005 “Approval of the Regulation on Economic Management of the Management Body of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park” and 861/24.01.2005 “Approval of the Regulation on projects execution, subcontracting, monitoring and collection of services and studies, commission, delivery and receipt of products and signing relevant contracts of the Management Body of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park” (Official Gazette Issue 72/B/2005)
• JMD No.125184/357/02.07.2003 (Official Gazette Issue 126/B/2003) “Determination of the members of the Board of Directors of the Management Body of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park”
• JMD No. 35633/30-08-2006 (Official Gazette Issue 911/D/2006) “Designation of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli as a National Park under the name “Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park” and determination of uses, and conditions and building restrictions”
• 4109/2013 (Official Gazette Issue 16/A/2013) “Abolition and merger of legal entities of the public and the wider public sector – Establishment of the General Secretariat to coordinate the governmental work and other provisions”

Environmental Legislation

• 1650/1986 (Official Gazette Issue 160/A/1986) “On the protection of the environment,” as amended by N. 3937/2011 (Official Gazette Issue 60/A/ 2011) “Conservation of biodiversity and other provisions”
• 2742/1999 (Official Gazette Issue 207/A/1999) “Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development and other provisions”
• Provisions of the International Berne Convention as ratified by N.1335/1985 (Official Gazette Issue 32/A/1985) “Ratification of the International Convention on the Conservation of Wildlife area and the natural environment of Europe”
• Berne Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
• Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora as integrated with the

• JMD 33318/3028/11.12.1998 (Official Gazette Issue 1289/B/1998) “Establishment of measures and procedures for the conservation of natural ecotopes (habitats) and of wild fauna and flora”
• JMD 14849/853/E103/04.04.2008 (Official Gazette Issue 645/B/2008) “Amendment of No. 33318/3028/1998 Joint Ministerial Decisions (B΄1289) and 29459/1510/2005 Joint Ministerial Decisions (B΄992), in compliance with the provisions of Directive 2006/105 of the Council of November, 20 2006 of the European Union”

• Directive 2009/147/EU (former 79/409/EEC) on the conservation of wild avifauna as integrated with the

• Ministerial Decision 414985/11.29.85 (Official Gazette Issue 757/B/1985) “Management Measures of wild avifauna”
• JMD 37338/1807/E.103/1-9-10 (Official Gazette Issue 1495/B/2010) “Establishment of measures and procedures for the conservation of wild avifauna and their ecotopes/habitats in compliance with the provisions of Directive 79/409/EEC, “On the conservation of wild birds”, of the European Council of April, 2 1979, as codified by Directive 2009/147/EC.

• JMD 8353/276/Ε103/17-2-2012 (Official Gazette Issue 415/Β/2012) “Amendment and supplementation of 37338/1807/2010 Joint Ministerial Decision on the “Establishment of measures and procedures for the conservation of wild avifauna and their ecotopes/habitats in compliance with Directive 79/409/EEC …” (B΄ 1495), in compliance with the provisions of the first section of the paragraph 1 of the Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC “On the conservation of wild birds” of the European Council of April, 2 1979, as codified by Directive 2009/147 / EC”
• 4042 (Official Gazette Issue 24/A/2012) “Penal Protection of the environment-Harmonization with Directive 2008/99/EC”
• PD 67/81 (Official Gazette Issue 23/A/1981) “On the Protection of native flora and wild fauna and determination of the process of coordination and control upon research on them” as revised by the Official Gazette Issue 43/A/1981.
• 3044/02 (Official Gazette Issue 197/A/2002) “Transfer of building coefficient and adjustments of other matters concerning the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works”